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What is the main cause of the Salem witch trials? (part 5)

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What is the main cause of the Salem witch trials? (part 5)

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Document G states "What are we to think of those persons who commenced and continued the accusations – the “afflicted children” and their associates?… It was perhaps their original design to gratify a love of notoriety or of mischief by creating excitement in their neighborhood… They soon, however, became intoxicated by the terrible success of their imposture, and were swept along by the frenzy they had occasioned…. Once or twice they were caught in their own snare; and nothing but the blindness of the bewildered community saved them from disgraceful exposure and well-deserved punishment. They appeared as prosecutors of every poor creature that was tried…. It is dreadful to reflect upon the enormity of their wickedness. There can be no doubt that they were great actors".  this document  expresses how the accusations were pointed unto the "afflicted children" or  those infected by hysteria. This supports that hysteria was the main cause of the salem witch trials.

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What is the main cause of the Salem Witch Trials (part 4)

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What is the main cause of the Salem Witch Trials (part 4)

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In Document H, it quotes, "The diagnosis of hysteria goes a long way toward resolving the historical debate over the afflicted girls’ motivation. Adolescents, especially in the presence of Tituba, might very well have succumbed to the suggestion of bewitchment. The fits they experienced were very likely genuine, born of anxiety over a magic that threatened to overpower them. The diagnosis also explains many of the adult fits

experienced by those who were convinced that their neighbors were conjuring against them." This document describes the symptoms and physical factors of hysteria. It also helps us to understand what the 'witches' were going though at the time of their bewitchment. Lastly, it proves to us that it wasn't even witchcraft that was happening, it was just hysteria.

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What is the main cause of the Salem Witch Trials (part 3)

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What is the main cause of the Salem Witch Trials (part 3)

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Document F states "(Examiner) Hath this woman hurt you? (speaking to afflicted girls) (Bridget Bishop) I never saw these persons before... (Examiner) They say you bewitched your first husband to death.

(Bridget Bishop) If it please your worships, I know nothing of it.

She shook her head and the afflicted were tortured (Examiner) Why you seem to act witchcraft before us by the motion of your body, which seems to have influence over the afflicted?

(Bridget Bishop) I know nothing of it. I am innocent to a witch. I know not what a witch is. Then she turned her eyes up, and the eyes of the afflicted were turned up".  This document supports the claim that the main cause of the Salem Witch Trials was hysteria because any odd behavior that was exhibited by women caused them to be accused of witchcraft.

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What is the main cause of the Salem Witch Trials (part 2)

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What is the main cause of the Salem Witch Trials (part 2)

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For example, Document C states, "These evil spirits are all around. There is confined unto the atmosphere of our air a vast power or army of evil spirits under the government of a Prince (Satan) who employs them in a continual opposition to the designs of God…. Go tell mankind, that there are devils and witches…. New England has had examples of their existence and that not only the wigwams of Indians…but the houses of Christians, where our God has had his constant worship, have undergone the annoyance of evil spirits." This document shows us just how scared the Puritans were of the witches. This truly proves to be a key document in my opinion because it tells us the main cause of why the witches were hung.

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In conclusion, the Salem Witch Trials were an occurrence in history where man and women were accused or suspected of witchcraft. The men and women accused were executed.  What caused the accusations were claims of being possessed  by the devil or evil spirits.  odd behavior was also exhibited by some which brought others to believe they were witches. The odd behavior was a result of hysteria.

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“Thou shall not suffer a witch to live.” This direct quote from document one is a quote from the bible. This quote is not particularly helpful in answering the key question, what caused the Salem Witch Trials. This quote means they believed witches should be executed. they took the quote from the bible literally.

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Picture #3 or, "Examination of a Witch". is representing the earlier events of the Salem Witch Trials, in which they are looking at the "Devil's mark" upon her.

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This oil painting is called "Accused of Witchcraft". In the scene, a young girl is being accused of witchcraft, therefore holds onto her father, though he gestures for the authorities to take her away.

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This picture is called, "Witch Hill," or "The Salem Martyr". The model for Witch Hill was a Cincinnati librarian who was a descendant of a woman who was executed in the Salem witch trials. In this image, it seems as the men are taking the woman to get executed.

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What is one document that did not help you answer the key question?

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What is one document that did not help you answer the key question?

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I think that the most unhelpful document to me was probably document 1. It is a direct quote from the bible yes, and it sort of helps us understand the Puritans point of view, but it's just this tiny piece of information when many of the other documents could inform us better.

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What exactly were the Salem Witch Trials? (introduction)

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What exactly were the Salem Witch Trials? (introduction)

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The Salem Witch Trials were an event in history about 19 men and women who were hung because they were suspected of being a witch. The trials occurred back in the 1600s, although ultimately beginning in 1620. The Salem Witch trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts, hence the town Salem. Some forms of 'evidence' of witches could be people experiencing odd behavior such as supernatural strengths, weakness, sudden anger followed my mischief, or people being visited by some sort of evil spirit(s).

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What is the main cause of the Salem Witch Trials? (part 1)

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What is the main cause of the Salem Witch Trials? (part 1)

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We believe that hysteria is most likely the main cause of the Salem Witch Trials. Hysteria basically means someone is going mad and that their emotions are askew. This could be one of the reasons why people were accused of witchcraft. Another big reason in my opinion were that the Puritans were scared. They were scared that the 'witches' were evil spawns and that they had the power of Satan. So therefore, the Puritans hung or killed the 'witches' in spite of their own fear.