Puritans and witches

Who were the Puritans?

• Protestants that wanted to reform the Anglican Church

• Settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony

• Spoke out against the King

• Believed in demonic forces

• The greatest achievement in life was death

• The church was the center of society. Many lived in close proximity to their church.

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Dressed in dark colors

Church attendance was mandatory

Believed that music led to laziness

Valued hard work

Harsh punishments

Colonial Punishments

• The Puritans forbade singing carols

• Someone who swore would be fined AND whipped

• If a child broke a law, their FATHER was punished.

• If 2 boys were talking in class, they would be joined by a stick in their mouths

• If a woman poured dirty water into the street, they would receive a lashing.

• Naughty children at school would be whipped with willow rods.

• If a woman committed a crime, often her husband was sentenced.

• Criminals were often branded on the hand.

Stocks

• A pair of boards with holes for the ankles and SHARPENED edge of a board for a seat with a hole for the head and hands were used.

• People would throw rotten fruit and garbage at them

• It was wise to hire someone to wipe their face so they don’t SUFFOCATE!

Public punishment

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Salem Witch Trials

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Fear…

• Devil gave witches power

• From 1500-1800 in Europe, 300,000 innocent women were put to death

• Grew out of fear, superstition, and ignorance

• Reverend Cotton Mather wrote a book about strange behaviors of children

• Some young girls heard lurid stories from West Indian slaves about voodoo/they acted possessed

• 200 cases in the Colonies. 20 executed

How do you test for a witch?

• Sink Test: Rocks tied to their feet. If they sank, they were innocent. If they didn’t, they were guilty and executed.

• Pin Test: They looked for the black mark of the devil. They would poke it with a needle. If you didn’t bleed, you were a witch.

Punishment

• Death by hanging. (Burning at the stake was common in Europe)

• 19 people hanged

• 1 person pressed to death

• The only way to escape prison, was to admit to being a witch.

• 13 died in prison

Hysteria in the colonies

Final Facts!

• No positive proof witches ever existed (Black Magic)

• Witches were often men as well as women

• Salem was not the only place witches were tried and punished

summary

• What did you learn about the Puritans and Witches?

• Why is hysteria a dangerous thing?