The Crucible by Elise Coronel

Witch Trials

99054166 — 2023-11-07 22:27:24 UTC

Witch trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. During these witch trials, the accused would be forced to confess to witchcraft, and spectral evidence, invisible evidence of spirits, had to be presented. Ironically, confessing to witchcraft and giving the names of other people involved could save your life. People who were found guilty of witchcraft but didn't confess were hung at Gallows Hill in front of huge crowds of people. By the end of 1692, 200 people were accused of being witches, and only 19 were hanged.

Puritans

99054166 — 2023-11-07 22:32:41 UTC

The Puritans were English Protestants who were very religious and devoted to God. They sought religious freedom and fled from England to the "New World", now North America, in 1620 and established the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Puritans desired to create a new, perfect society that was a model community, also known as City Upon a Hill. They had strict moral codes and practiced their beliefs such as Calvinism and predestination. The Purtian's strong beliefs added to the cause of the witch hysteria in Salem.

City Upon a Hill

99054166 — 2023-11-14 01:34:57 UTC

The City Upon a Hill was a concept given by John Winthrop in 1630. He created this concept by telling the Massachusetts Bay Colony that their community would be like a "city upon a hill", being watched by the rest of the world. The theory was all about the colony and their duty to be a model of Christian goodness. They were to be a symbol of hope and an example for other Christians around the world. Puritans built many well-known schools and taught "City Upon a Hill" concepts and ideologies.

Calvinism

99054166 — 2023-11-14 02:15:37 UTC

Calvinism was a theological belief created by John Calvin and espoused by Puritans. It emphasized the necessity of grace through faith and God and is greatly known for the idea of predestination. The Puritans believed in total depravity, limited atonement, grace, theocracy, education, and troubles caused by Satan. They believed that Satan recruited people and turned them into witches, and these were the causes for all the bad things that happened in Salem. The Purtian's beliefs caused paranoia in Salem.

Witch Hysteria

99054166 — 2023-11-14 02:18:02 UTC

The Witch Hysteria in Salem derived from the Puritan beliefs that Satan and witches were always looking to break down the godly life. Troubles such as death, disease, or misfortune were believed to be the devil's work. This caused paranoia, and neighbors turned against one another and accused each other of witchcraft. Accused witches were typically women or people of lower class, and were met with convulsive fits, screams, and strange behavior. Other causes of the witch hysteria in Salem were foreign influence, boredom, confessing witches, and old feuds.