Salem Witch Crisis.....

[DizBelle]

Regarding the 1692 crisis in Massachusets.

Let's assume that there were actually no witches...

What do you think went on? Were all those girls faking their afflictions? Did they believe that something was happening to them (e.g. they, themselves, had some kind of infection or something that was causing hallucinations)? Or do you believe or know of some other theories?




fyi - I'm reading a book about it and find it interesting

 

[marie1203]

I am writing a paper about this for literature class. I will say I really do not think they were witches. I am not 100% sure on what really went on. Maybe a little bit of everything they were lying and it could have been ergot poisoning, that makes more sense to me that being real witches.

 

[RitaE]

I did a paper on it once in college too.

I came away with the impression that there might have been a bit of ergot poisoning or another illness, but most likely mass hysteria imho. Never underestimate the power of psychological buy-in.

 

[agnes!]

I don't think it took place in 1962...

agnes!

 

[DizBelle]

I don't think it took place in 1962...

agnes!

Oops. Typo. Corrected in my OP.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Nothing more than the want-to-be cool girls, following along with what the cool girls were doing. What were the "cool" girls doing? Using spite, jealousy, and other nefarious means to get back at people in the village.

Was there a bit of ergot poisoning? Very possible given the time and climate, but I think the widespread hysteria was more peer driven than anything else.

 

[ilovemk76]

I watched a show where a person discussed the possiblity that a fungus (or the like) grew on the wheat crop that cause halucinations. It is a rare occurrance but the conditions leading up to the witch trials were the right conditions for this event.

I beleive the orginal were halucination but some of the later were just for revenge. IIRC the whole thing ended when the governor of Mass's wife was called a witch.

 

[Deb in IA]

Mass hysteria, much like teenage crazes nowadays.

Unfortunately, innocent people lost their lives.

 

[KarenB]

Any good realistic fiction books about this topic?

 

[GeorgeG]

Whatever the cause for the girls' strange behavior, the accused "witches" were victims of a few arrogant community leaders who exercised control over a mostly ignorant public. Things started changing when a judge's wife was accused.

 

[mjkacmom]

Any good realistic fiction books about this topic?

Yes, The Wolves of Andover and The Heretics Daughter, same author.

 

[rie'smom]

Any good realistic fiction books about this topic?

The Crucible

From what I've read, some of it was teenaged girls gone crazy, some of it was people taking out their dislike on their neighbors. All of it was ignorance.

 

[IdesOmarch]

I've never bothered to double check the historical facts of this, but I have heard that most of the women were mid-wives and were "horning in on" so to speak the male doctors livelihoods in the communities, so they trumped up these witch charges to get rid of them. Not sure if that's true or not, but its a theory.

 

[FredinFL]

I believe the girls fed off the attention and each other. It gave them permission to act out without repercussions for them. It may have started with someone being sick, but others just followed along. Just mho.

 

[rie'smom]

I was just thinking of the irony; the girls' testimony caused people to be burnt to death but their lies may have caused them to burn too-for eternity.

 

[npmommie]

There are witches in Salem now in this day and age.
real ones

 

[XTinabell]

The Crucible

From what I've read, some of it was teenaged girls gone crazy, some of it was people taking out their dislike on their neighbors. All of it was ignorance.

This.

I saw a documentary on this once, I don't recall how long ago or what it was called but regardless, they said people would accuse their neighbors of being witches because they wanted their neighbors land. All ignorance and greed. OP I imagine there are a ton of great books that would make for an interesting read as well as be helpful for your paper.

 

[DizBelle]

I was just thinking of the irony; the girls' testimony caused people to be burnt to death but their lies may have caused them to burn too-for eternity.

Interesting viewpoint but none were burned. 19 hanged and 1 pressed.

The one man that was pressed was not pressed because he was convicted of being a witch. He refused to answer the charge so was pressed until he would answer. He died before that happened though.

 

[HeWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Ann Putnam, Jr.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Ann Putnam)
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House of Ann Putnam, Jr. Danvers circa 1891Ann Putnam, Jr. (October 18, 1679 – 1716), along with Elizabeth "Betty" Parris, Mary Walcott and Abigail Williams, was an important witness at the Salem Witch Trials of Massachusetts during the later portion of 17th century Colonial America. Born 1679 in Salem Village, Essex County, Massachusetts, she was the eldest child of Thomas Putnam (1652–1699) and Ann Carr (1661–1699). She was friends with some of the girls who claimed to be afflicted by witchcraft and, in March 1692, proclaimed to be afflicted herself.

In 1706, Ann Putnam publicly apologized for the part she had played in the witch trials.

I desire to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling providence that befell my father's family in the year about ninety-two; that I, then being in my childhood, should, by such a providence of God, be made an instrument for the accusing of several persons of a grievous crime, whereby their lives were taken away from them, whom, now I have just grounds and good reason to believe they were innocent persons; and that it was a great delusion of Satan that deceived me in that sad time, whereby I justly fear I have been instrumental, with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon myself and this land the guilt of innocent blood; though, what was said or done by me against any person, I can truly and uprightly say, before God and man, I did it not out of any anger, malice, or ill will to any person, for I had no such thing against one of them; but what I did was ignorantly, being deluded by Satan.

And particularly, as I was a chief instrument of accusing Goodwife Nurse and her two sisters, I desire to lie in the dust, and to be humble for it, in that I was a cause, with others, of so sad a calamity to them and their families; for which cause I desire to lie in the dust, and earnestly beg forgiveness of God, and from all those unto whom I have given just cause of sorrow and offense, whose relations were taken away or accused.

Some historians have speculated that her parents, Thomas and Ann (Carr), Sr., coerced Putnam to accuse those they were feuding with or sought revenge on. Many of the accused had some sort of relationship with the powerful Putnam family.

When her parents died in 1699, Putnam was left to raise her nine siblings aged 7 months to 16 years. Putnam never married.

She was a first cousin once removed of Generals Israel Putnam and Rufus Putnam.

 

[bgirldeb]

Mass hysteria, much like teenage crazes nowadays.

Yep! Like Bieber Fever.