Salem Witch Trials

A Web-Quest

Introduction:• Double, double toil and trouble,• Fire burn and caldron bubble.• Fillet of a fenny snake,• In the caldron boil and bake.• Eye of newt and toe of frog,• Wool of bat and tongue of dog,• Adder's fork and blindworm's sting,• Lizard's leg and howler's wing...

•So begins a witches' chant by William Shakespeare in his play Macbeth. We tend to think of a witch as an old hag with a wart and a black hat, stirring a bubbling caldron. Believe it or not, in the late 1600's in Salem Massachusetts, everyday people; men, women AND children, stood accused of the crime of witchcraft. Many of these people would be executed for their supposed “crimes”. You are about to investigate this dark event.

Task:

• You will be working individually and in groups to investigate our topic. Individually, you will use internet resources to find the Who, What, When, and Where of this event. In your groups you will then each choose a different character from history: either an accuser, person accused, magistrate, or Puritan minister to better understand the How and Why of this event. You will prepare a first person narrative to present at trial.

• Following our trial you will be prepared to discuss this unfortunate demonstration of “mass hysteria” in the past, and identify more recent events that are similar in nature and cause.

The Event:

The Movie!

The Facts:

Today, in the 21st century, we have difficulty accepting claims of “witchcraft”. But to Puritans living in 17th century Massachusetts such claims were taken VERY seriously. Click on the link below to

get some background on life in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Use this link to answer the questions on your “Pre-Trial Brief”.

Life in Salem

The People Involved:

Afflicted Girls

Sarah Churchill

Elizabeth Hubbard

Mercy Lewis

Elizabeth Parris

Ann Putnam Jr.

Mary Warren

Mary Walcott

Abigail Williams

Executed Persons

Bridget BishopRev. Geo. Burroughs

Martha CarrierGiles Cory

Martha CoryMary EastySarah Good

Geo. Jacobs Sr.Susannah MartinRebecca NurseSarah OsborneJohn Proctor Sr.Ann Prudeator

Samuel WardwellJohn Willard

Ministers

Francis Dane

Cotton Mather

Increase Mather

Samuel Parris

Samuel Willard

Magistrates

Sir William Phips

William Stoughton

John Hathorne

Samuel Sewall

Key Figures This category is for those

who want to work individually.

William Barker Jr. & Sr.

Thomas Brattle

Tituba

*Nathaniel***Hawthorne**By Permission Only

Each member of your group will select a different person in your category. Click on their name to be directed to a site with their biography. You will use this to prepare your narrative for presentation at trial.

Trial Transcripts:• To better understand the thinking of the time it is necessary to examine the actual words used during the proceedings. Use the links below to get a clearer picture of Puritan thinking towards witchcraft. Standard Optional (Honors Requirement)

• Witness Testimony

• Cotton Mather: The Devil in New England

• John Hathorne: Judge, Jury or Both?

Modern Day “Witch-Hunts”

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