The Salem Witch Hunts

Term Paper # 104234

History > U.S. American Society, 1640-1750

Looks at the myths surrounding the Salem witch hunts.

775 words () | 4 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the Salem witch hunts in the context of the effect the Indian War and not the sexually wanting young girls. The author points out that court transcripts of the trials give a psychological insight into the anguish and ambiguities of the people during this time. The paper concludes that the Salem witch trials are an example of how the remembrances of the past are not necessarily the facts.

From the Paper:

"The perception that women who were accused of being witches were liberal, unmarried, lesbians, had more knowledge in medicine or religion than doctors or priests or that they were victims of women haters is untrue. Many women accused of witchcraft were married and had families. Men were the judges in a witch trial but rarely an accuser. Most testimonials given at the witch trials were by women. The severity of the punishment for the crime of witchcraft was just as strong in Catholic areas as it was in Protestant areas."

Sample of Sources Used:

Gragg, Larry. The Salem Witch Crisis. New York: Praeger, 1992 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=15094031>
Godbeer, Richard. Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt 1692. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004<http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=108656741>
Norton, Katzman, Blight, Chudacoff, Paterson, Tuttle, Escott & Brophy. A People and a Nation (6th ED) Volume 1. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006.
Purkiss, Diane. The Witch in History: Early Modern and Twentieth-Century Representations. New York: Routledge, 1996 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=103107258>