Look at the six minute video clip
If you have problems downloading the video, you can go directly to the LINK
This site is an excellent resource. Go through the links posted below and take notes about the information in each section. After you finish the task, select one of the sections and write your reaction to it. Finally post your response on the blog. The response should be at least 8 sentences long. Be careful with grammatical and spelling errors. XOXO
Life in Salem 1692 The Story of the Witch Hunt
Religion and Witchcraft
Economic and Social Divisions
The People Behind the Trials
Cotton Mather
Ann Putman JR.
Tituba
Sarah Good
John Protector
Mary Easty
LIFE IN SALEM 1692
ReplyDeleteAt the time of the 1692 was very difficult. We see maleness in these communities. The many restrictions that imposed only because it was a distraction or were in "against the Bible". See how even the children had to follow them because if not it would receive a punishment. Without taking into account that childhood is a stage of curiosity and fun. See children used to the same routine of having to act as adults and do jobs that do not. I think that each child lived with fear. Seeing as its only "fun" or entertainment was reading the Bible and know about witches. To these children have in mind such things caused damage, up to this sort of thing could imagine. And a perfect example of Abigail Williams and Betty Parris. These girls didn't have any fun. Nothing good to imagine as Tituba (eclava) told them to magical stories and spells. This may be the main reason for which they acted hysterically and behaved strangely. They could not distract is just reading the Bible more you the stories of Tituba, who not helped it much.
STEPHANIE REYES 11-2
I believe a child should be allowed to be child. These girls lived fearing God.
DeleteIn my opinion 1962 was a difficult time. There really wasnt no reasoning. Tituba was being judge by something they did not really know. For what I could obtain 1962 was a time where people were closed minded to the point of killing people by instinct. God was the center of all, and they really didn't let people be or think how they wanted. If you didn't think like the other you were persecuted. Tituba came clean and atleast was not killed on it very secong but she was put in prison for a long time.Thank God people have changed since then.
ReplyDeleteFrances Villalobos 11-2
Poor education and communication, resistance to change, and prejudice are just some of the elements of closed mindedness.
Delete~Puritan Children~
ReplyDeleteUpon completing my task, I have found that this section of the webpage keeps on calling my attention and I often find myself re-reading it often. It just amazes me that mere children had to go through all of this hardship and that they were also the spark that ignited this very unstable mayhem. Another thing that surprised me was that the children that were currently living in Salem at the time were submitted to the same religious code adults had to follow obligatorily. Apparently, these clergymen did not understand the impact of their actions upon these children and deprived them of the fundamental elements that compose ones own childhood. Things such as playing with toys, socializing and expressing ones feelings through different emotions when one is young are key elements to a child's healthy development. But, alas, since religion in Salem took these things away from their children, these had to find another source and had to rely on something else to have fun and express their childish natural instinct. The "circle girls", for example, found excitement and fun in listening to Tituba tell her stories about storry-telling and spirits and also felt fun by playing her story-telling games, such as the one in which they drop egg whites into a glass of water and tell what shape they can see. Maybe, just maybe, if the Puritans would not have been so uptight as to take away the childrens freedom and their rights to BE a child, Salem and it's people would have avoided alot of conflict and death in their lives.
Giancarlo L. Vargas Alers
11-1
A child would be punished for falling asleep during the sermon. A child was not allowed the joys of childhood. A child is innately curious and imaginative. They are driven to explore new things and this was not allowed by Puritan Law.
DeleteLife in Salem 1692
ReplyDeleteLife in Salem in the year 1692 was one of the strongest moments in that time. There was not a leader to lead them as such so they did what they thought was right. That year or suffered from hunger and many probresa.'s Desperation to get rid of certain people led them to lie and say I had perosnas that scrambling with the devil. Another factor that affection was wanting to be so perfect and we do not want to commit any mistake. The errors we now know that it is normal because we are human commit yet if one were committed at that time assistant Satana. I think everything that happened in that place was because they wanted perfection so they went to the extreme. It was a moment that we will always remember as much history framework in the U.S. and was rather unfortunate for those people who lost their lives because of the desperation of some people at the time.
They did have leaders. Unfortunately, they lead the people to go against each other and death.
DeletePuritan children
ReplyDeleteChildren raised in 1692 where supposed to act like adults. That meaning that they were not really allowed playing games or playing with toy, it was considered sinful, now in day it’s kind of weird if you don’t play. Kids were to do chores, attend church and be individuals at a very young age. With boys things where a little more flexible they could be apprentices to workers, do carpeting work or crafts, go hunting and fishing. While girls were could only do house hold work. It was boring for the girls and boys even if the boys were allowed to use their imagination a little but still those things aren’t really that fun, there still hard work. During this time the children that could read didn’t have much children story’s to read, most were warning of what would happen if they acted out, while our children’s books are fun and creative. Their only other option of literature was the Bible and other religious books or stories; i personally would have gone crazy with only those options of literature. Maybe that’s why Abigail Williams and Betty Parris enjoyed hearing Titubas stories and games, but also a little guilty for doing something that was considered sinful. I believe that they faked being “bewitched” it probably seamed fun and entertaining to them, to be the talk of the town and like children for a while. If they would have just let kids be kids they wouldn’t have had so many deaths and problems.
It's possible that this was a major reason. Now if you were in their shoes you probably would not know about alternative available. Life as a Puritan would be your only option.
DeleteMiguel 11-1~~~Economic and Social Divisions
ReplyDeleteIn 1692, Salem was divided into two parts. These parts were the Salem Town which was wealthy and Salem Village which was poor. The village wanted to have independence; however, this did not happen until 1674. Parris was selected as minister in the village, and he accused the Salem Town to have prosperity because of the Devil. It is possible that this rivalry between them influenced the witch trials. Perhaps, have they stayed together and balanced the economy, maybe the witch trials would not have happened. Economy problems and differences is something that we have always faced, and they will always bring more problems. Humanity needs to learn to solve the problems they have in order to prevent others.
I agree with you. The village was oppressed by the town in so many ways. When they decide it is time to become independent, they are accused of being witches.
Delete-People Behind the Trials-
ReplyDeleteIt's clear that the "circles of girls" were the ones who fanned and started the hysteria back then. Because they weren't allowed to haven fun just as whe do in these times, the girls were entertained by Tituba, a dark-skin slave born in south America later on sold in Barbados to reverend Parris. She entertained the girls with magic, fortune telling and stories from her homeland by the kitchen's fire and that was forbidden by Puritan's law. Many innocent people were accused of witchcraft and some of them killed. Cotton Matter, devoted minister; Ann Putnam, 12 yrs old considered leader of "the circle of girls"and by the end she accused 62 persons; Tituba, reverend Parris slave; Sarah Good, homeless women and accused by witch craft; John Proctor, witchcraft skeptic and Mary Easty, mother of 7 and religious women. Whether they helped to the witch hunt or were victims of the events, together these people were part of Salem Witch Trials. I believe that many decisions back then were taken wrong, because they were blind by the strict religion they followed. Many people were accused wrongly because they act in a "misbehave" way (for them) but that doesn't mean the were witches. If we compare those days to now days some of those acts would be normal.
Cotton Mather
ReplyDeleteOne of the most firm believers of the witches widespread in 1692 New England was Cotton Mather. Mather wrote a book in 1689 that described supposed witchcraft that had occurred in Boston the year before. He had a direct role in the Witch Trials, his sermons and written work gave life to the witchcraft hysteria. When George Burroughs, a former pastor, was about to be hanged he recited the Lord's Prayer. This was supposedly impossible for a witch or wizard, this drew doubts fro the spectators. At that moment Mather mounted a horse and said that the devil often transformed into the Angel of Light; this appeased the people and the trial continued. I believe Mather reacted in this way out of frustration. Events such as the prayer done by Burroughs before he was hanged couldn't be explained. I think what he said in that moment was meant to comfort people in a way that said that no matter if the devil rose and tried to confused them the Lord would guide them. I don't think he ever meant wrong, he was trying to find an explanation to the difficult times in Salem.
Gabriela M. Crespo 11-1
Puritan Children
ReplyDeleteI see that these children had no childhood and had a strict way of life. Taking away a persons childhood is inhuman (in my opinion). Being treated as an adult in a early stage is a harsh thing to do with a child because you are taking away his liberty. I understand that they wanted a strict and peaceful community but putting harsh rules on the children is too much. Children and teens will always have a question over authority for example ( what happens if I disobey my parents? What will they do? What will they think? ). This is what happen to Abigail and Betty, they disobeyed and listened to Tituba about stories of her land. Guilt took a efect on both girls and they acted or pretended to be bewitched. It might say that the adults continue the trials but the person that we should say that actually started it was the 2 girls. I slightly see why they were this strict because tey wanted order not diversity.
The children in Salem village were restricted from almost everything. They were trying to do a "perfect world" by controlling everything. The controlling cause the hysteria because of some girls looking for fun and different from their normal and strict life. What they do, think, ans read were controlled by the religion code. The girls were only allowed to stay home, helping their mothers, cooking, washing, and cleaning. The boys used more their imagination by hunting and fishing. They were not allowed to play with toys and were obligated to the same strict code as the adults. I think the people need development and don't skip any stage of our life so we could learn from everything. Also be allowed to express our feelings. They didn't had a good education they only had a bible and other religious work explaining witchcraft. I think thats why they though that everything unusual was from Satan or a God punishment for sinful behavior. People should be more open minded.
ReplyDelete-Puritian children-
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePuritan Children
ReplyDeleteI find that the puritans lived up to their name of being pure, but were really extremist on how people should act. Children are meant to imagine and explore, but in the confinements of puritan law they could not do anything that was enjoyable or fun. This would obiously lead to the kind of behavior that these girls were presenting. Tituba brought to their interest something unknown and exciting, something that was against the beliefs of the community. This caused them to feel guilty about their behavior and made them act paranoid. The adults were the ones that in all of their absurdity brought up withcraft as the cause instead of thinking that they were just young girls looking for attention and excitement.
Janet I don't think what i wrote is correct but to hell with it, I liked...
ReplyDeleteIn Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony on 1692 women would work on the house, cleaning, cooking and doing laundry. Girls were supposed to the same. It is only natural that children would like to play games, explore and have toys, but this was considered sin by the Puritan rule over Salem. A minister in this rule was Samuel Parris, whose daughter, Elizabeth Parris, also known as Betty, and nephew, Abigail Williams, were victims of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. They became victims of witchcraft due to their controlled lifestyle. It all began with Tituba, Samuel's slave from Barbados, and all three of his children. They would gather around a fire to hear Tituba's stories and play fortune-telling games. This spread around town and soon various girls from the vicinity met around the fire, known as "the circle". It was in one of these meeting that three girls: Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, and Ann Putnam started to behave differently but the first public fit was during mass while their Reverend Parris was reading. When the girls were examined by doctors, they concluded that the girls had been bewitched. They were forced to confess who were the witches and the names to come out were Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osbourne. The accused were all outcasts from society: Tituba was a dark-skinned slave, Sarah Good was beggar who went door-to-door with her children, and Sarah Osbourne a widow that has been absent to mass for almost three years (Osbourne's naming is believed to be because of feuds with the Putnam family.) Tituba was promised freedom if she confessed, she accepted and was kept in jail until she was sold out of Salem. Tituba confessed that there were other witches in Salem, this caused huge chaos, technically, starting the Salem Witch Trials. I think that the girls were just seeking attention and the fact that they haven't dealt with a similar situation before gets them in a vulnerable position which their families probably took advantage of, like the Putnam family. Their families would just tell the girls the people they wanted taken care of and on the a trial an uncontrollable fit would take place, locking them and hanging them later, if he/she did not confess. Although I think the Parris family and Putnam family took advantage of the girls "possession", I also think there was another factor in this, something like mind control or hypnosis because it's just simply mouth-opening to think that three young girls could get more than twenty people killed and more than a hundred in prison. In conclusion, the people of Salem in 1692 must've been very nervous, scared and just overwhelmed by the fact the anybody can be imprisoned, trialed and killed for being a witch without proof or reason as long as the girls say so.
Ah? Ah? Oh, and yes, I did not read it again before I posted it. :D x.x
Puritan children
ReplyDeleteFrom all the themes this one was the one that gat the most of my attention. Life in Salem in 1692 couldn’t be easy. First of all kids weren’t allowed to act like kids. The society expect for them to behave like adults. They weren’t allowed to play or show any emotion at all. You can see that boys have more liberty than girls. They were allowed to go outside to hunt and go fishing. On other hand girls were supposed to stay in the house and do the chores. The only books they have were the bible and others about the punishment and behavior. With this you can see that they don’t have much knowledge about other things. We can say that this community was controlled but especially the youngest ones. I think they do such things because these are the ones who question the more.
*Sarah Good*
ReplyDeleteI found the story of Sarah Good to be the most interesting. She was a social outcast notorious for begging door-to-door with her children. Because the people of Salem Village were so familiar with her, it makes sense that Ann Putnam (part of a very influential family who had many enemies at that time) would choose to her to be her tormentor. It would not be hard to believe that Sarah Good was indeed a witch- she was "an odd homeless person who did not fit the Puritan mold", and was easy to put blame on as she often walked away mumbling if she were refused when she begged. People would say that those "curses" were responsible for misfortunes in the community. I find it fascinating to try and figure out if she really was a witch and those kids were actually telling the truth or if she was truly just an innocent victim of their restricted imaginations. On one hand, Tituba, Reverend Parris’s slave, named her as a witch when she was being tried. But we have to keep in mind that Tituba was beaten by the Reverend and promised freedom if she cooperated and confessed. Tituba, being born in South America and then later being captured and taken to Barbados where she was sold as a slave, must have been brought up listening to stories of witchcraft. She probably believed the girls were actually victims of witchcraft, this being the reason she claimed there to be other witches in the village. Adding to the question of whether or not Sarah was guilty, Dorcas, Sarah’s five-year-old daughter, confessed of her and her mother being witches, when accused by Ann. She showed the magistrates a red spot on her finger (that could or could not have been from a flea bite) and claimed it was from a snake her mother had given her. We do have to keep in consideration though, that this could just be a product of her imagination. Children didn’t have many outlets for expression during those times, and that could have just been her way of trying to have fun. True or not, Dorcas was put in prison and chained to a wall. But what enthralled me the most about Sarah’s story is that just before she was hanged, she said to a Reverend “I am no more of a witch than you are a wizard, and if you take away my life, God will give blood to drink.” The fact that, twenty-five years later that Reverend died of internal bleeding choking on his own blood is absolutely jaw-dropping. I said this to my mother and she mentioned that years ago people truly believed in curses and that it was said that when people tried to curse others, it worked. Bearing this in mind, we could think of what Sarah said as a curse. If she cursed him, then she must really be a witch then right? However, we can think of this as her telling the truth. For example, you know when people say “…and if I’m lying, may I be struck with lightning.”? Well what if she was actually telling the truth? What if she wasn't guilty?
-Puritan children-
ReplyDeleteIn the Salem witch trials in 1692, there were people called puritans. The puritans had children that were rased strictly by there religion. The hole point of this religion was to be as pure as you had to be. The children didn't no such thing as having fun or being free to do what you want to do.All they did was go to church and do shores. The boys and girls were treated differently,because boys were for hunting and girls were for house cleaning. In my opinion this life was boring because there was no freedom and almost everything you did was a sin that of course you had to be punished . The only books they read were the bible and other children books. That's why Abigail Williams and Betty Parris where considered witches. The reason of that is the story telling of Tituba's that caused a guilty side to the girls because if was forbidden, this explains the sinister and weird action of these two young girls; who obviously were not witches they were just craving for a new feeling of something new .Curiosity.
-Nashali Camara-
-Puritan children-
ReplyDeleteI can say that now,compared to back then, we are more prone to explore and have fun. The children in Salem were definitely not living the same way we are right now because of how strict the Puritans were. What really shocks me though is the fact that if you expressed any emotions you would be punished. Even though boys back then could actually do some outdoor activities, the girls had to work more than them. Now is not heard of children acting like adults, but unfortunately in Salem it actually happened(which is alarming). We see people who are strict nowadays with their religion but compared to back then, it is to be considered an exaggeration. Not being able to be yourself is a sad life because life is all about creating yourself, not being forced to do what you don't want to do. This was obviously going to lead to the kind of behavior that Abigail Williams and Betty Parris expressed at the time and I sincerely don't blame them. We should be grateful that we are living in a community that is incomparable to the one in Salem(1692) and look at this article as an example to all of us who don't appreciate the privileges we have as humans right now.
-Puritan children-
ReplyDeleteI find this section really interesting because of how children had to act back then. It's like they really don't exist children because since a young age they treat them like adults. When i say that they treat them as adult I am referring to the fact that they don't play like normal children, they have to work. In my opinion in some way is good to give chores to children since young because this gives them responsibilities. But I don't agree with what they were doing to this children. Children must have fun and play, enjoy life with the curiosity and innocence they only have. They must not be forbidden to laugh and express emotions. The fact that they treat them like this probably had an effect on what happen in 1692. Maybe the girls wanted attention and to be treated differently and thought that accusing people was the only way to get it. I am not saying this was the reason but it could be one of the reason or like I said before have an effect in their actions.
Natalie M. Loperena
I choose the Tituba section because for me was the most interesting themes. The story of this slave impressed me because the rejection that Tituba faced in Puritan Salem Village. I think that she was a person with good feelings because she tended the Samuel Parris children's and served him as a slave. Another thing very interesting was that Tituba baked a ''witch cake'' with rye and Betty's urine. It is very disgusting. Then, I started to imagine how the children's exhibited their strange behaviors and the reaction of the Puritan's faces because for them it was an offense for God. I felt sad when Parris beat Tituba and she was accused of witchcraft. I concluded if the Puritans were very ''religious'' people they shouldn't kill,hang, nor burn the witches just because their behavior was different and strange. The most terrible thing was when sometimes the Puritans killed innocent people and Tituba was a witch but she didn't kill anyone. She was inoffensive person and will didn't deserve to go to prison. In my opinion, if the Puritans didn't liked that a witch, like Tituba, lived in their village, they should've just expulse the witches of the Salem Village nor make them suffer with an horrible chastise that cause the death.
ReplyDeleteThe Story of Witch Hunt.
ReplyDeleteLife in Salem wasn't easy in those days.Children had no toys,in other words they didn't had much fun.Many acts were prohibited in that time.Many which were "fun" stuff to do.People in those day weren't so open minded.Many innocent people were accused of witch craft and kill or sent to jail were they would die.They should had just look for a more reasonable explanation.Probably some unknown disease or virus attack the people and in those times that meant they were attack by witch craft. Many innocent people die in those time.Simply because they thought they were witches they kill them.I think they could at least look for a better option instead of killing them. The truth is they weren't so sure but they were teach to think that way because of there religion. Is sad to know all those people die but at least in time they learn and decide to stop bringing people who were thought to be witches.
-Puritan Children
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the information contained in the web links, this theme caught my attention more than the others. It surprised me that adults forgot or didn't care about the needs of the children living in Salem. It is astounding how child were obligated to work as a fully grown person. I assumed that it was very harsh and unfair for the growing generation. In a child's life, the way the act on their first life stages will take a toll for the rest of their whole life. It is terrible to know that the any way these two girls could be "happier" was to rely on a death witch. I think that if adults would have given the children more freedom to express their emotions the only way kids know, the Salem society would've had less death and problems.
Life in a time where you were judged and accused for: singing, writing, reading etc. Where you lived every day with fear, with fear that your neighbor, your friend, even your family could be "possessed". A time where it reign confusion. For most of the people killing was there sixth sense. 24 innocent people were killed. The accusations were absurd. No governor when the madness started. How would they enforce law without someone to lead them? People were ignorant they didn't know how to choose between was good and was bad. The speculate and acted by their absurd impulses. The church played a big part on this. "Devil and its mercenaries" that's one way to call it. People though that the people that were accused were part of a group send by the devil himself to cause pain and suffering. They wanted the people to live an ordinary life. Poverty played a big part during this madness. Most of the families had to make their own clothes and produce their own food. Climate never helped on the agriculture. This was a time were you couldn't trust anybody. Where even your own family could accused you. Where God was everything. Cruel and sad time this was.
ReplyDeleteLeonardo Acevedo 11-2
Puritan children
ReplyDeleteI choose this theme because I find very interesting that children were treated like adults in that time. They were not able to entertain themselves that much because they were very restricted from activities, girls more than boys. We can see that in the way of living of Abigail Williams and Betty Paris. By reading the information of Tituba we can understand why she entertained the girls by magical stories and fortune telling. There is no doubt she impacted the lives of this two young girls. By themselves knowing these activities were strictly forbidden they were filled with fear and guilt. Its obvious they are many factors behind this actions, but it's truly evident that they impacted the community in a great way. In conclusion I agree with the information because the girls did make Salem react against certain people but it was the adults who set the wheels into motion. Thank you :)
-Fanny C. Feliciano Crespo
11-2 Nov/19/13
-Fanny C. Feliciano Crespo
ReplyDelete11-2 Nov/19/13
Puritan children
I choose this theme because I find very interesting that children were treated like adults in that time. They were not able to entertain themselves that much because they were very restricted from activities, girls more than boys. We can see that in the way of living of Abigail Williams and Betty Paris. By reading the information of Tituba we can understand why she entertained the girls by magical stories and fortune telling. There is no doubt she impacted the lives of this two young girls. By themselves knowing these activities were strictly forbidden they were filled with fear and guilt. Its obvious they are many factors behind this actions, but it's truly evident that they impacted the community in a great way. In conclusion I agree with the information because the girls did make Salem react against certain people but it was the adults who set the wheels into motion. Thank you :)
-Fanny C. Feliciano Crespo
11-2 Nov/19/13
Puritan Children
ReplyDeleteIt must've been really awful to be a child and live during the 1692, at that time people were starting to move to America. The puritans were people that participated on that movement. According to what I've read their children were not able to do a lot of thing because they were considered sins. The children couldn't feel excitement, fear, or anger because if they did they would be punished. The boys were able to be more creative than girls, since they could go hunting and fishing. They could also learn to do crafts and carpentry, but the girls could only help their mothers in cooking, cleaning, etc. It must've been hard and boring to live during that time, not only you weren't able to feel certain emotions, but also you couldn't play. If you did, those distractions were considered sinful and you were to be punished. Thank GOD that I wasn't alive at that time because I often get distracted and like to play. If I were alive in 1692 I think that I would be the first in line to be punished.
Puritan Children
ReplyDeleteI really liked the story of Puritan children because it is very different to how the children of today live . By this time you had to be as pure as possible and follow the codes of them perfectly . They pretended that the childrens make things that adults do and that are stages of life as a human being you have to pass, to be a child does not happen every day. It enabled them to children to play with toys because that is against the rules that is something that instead of help is going to hurt . Children eventually are going to to do things they did not do and then will be revealed against and the consequences will be worse . I understand that witchcraft something they were against but the punishment they gave to the children is something that was wild and should have changed that way of thinking . The case of Abigail Williams and Betty Parris is something that caught my attention because they were so locked that they had no power and imagination so decided to practice Tituba 's magical stories and fortune -telling games that was something that the Puritans were against . Because the enclosure in which they were was that witch hunting emerged . I start to think about it and know that those things were actually something that amazes me but at the same time I learn about this topic that is so interesting.
Witchcraft and Religion
ReplyDeleteThe Puritans only learned the things that the church dictated them. The church told you what to wear, what to do, how to act, when to do these things. They had infinite power over the poor peoples lives, and the people loved it. They also learned that when they saw something different, for example a girl playing instead of doing chores and wearing a colorful dress, what would they do? Punish, of course. You see, they where practically taught to eliminate difference there. There was only one thing: all of them lived the same and any sign of rebellion must be eliminated. So when the Pagans came of course they took action, because they knew nothing else, they didnt want to either. Truth was, they lived happy that way, most of them. But those who rebelled where pegged as witches and sentenced to trial. Who can judge them, it was all they had been taught, they couldnt do anything about it. And maybe these witch trials where something that was bound to happen, by the closed mindlessness of these people. Maybe it was good for them in a way, maybe they changed their way of thinking and lived more happy.
This section really call my attention. They were treating kids like adult when kids don't have the maturity to act like them. Being a child is a stage of life that you can't skip. There is we're the imagination and maturity begins. You like a child can't express any emotion or you will be punished. It's really hard to think how a society could be so influence in the life of those children's like Abigail and Betty. They were bewitched just for having Imagination and being expressive. I believe that it was a hard time but we are living the same situation right now. Just that now kids want to be like adult having the opportunity of childhood.Kenneth Seda 11-1
ReplyDeleteAlayla Sanabria 11-1
ReplyDelete-Religion and Witchcraft-
Most of the English moved to America for religious reasons. They wanted to practice their own religion. The most popular religion in America, in the17th century, was the Puritans'. They came searching for a little of religious freedom. By the time passed this religion became more strict. Not even letting kids have fun in their own way. They were made believed that their opinions were not important to God. Living Puritan with the only choice to go to church and work hard. If there was ever committed a sin there would be a punishment. They also believed that God, afterwards will punish them also. Witchcraft was one of the most punishable sins. It's punishmente was death. They thought that the Devil used the witches to gain power from the Puritans. One of the first "witches" were Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne. The Puritans were scared of wht more the witches were capable of so they just killed them. Not before asking them if there was more witches around Salem.
This was the most interesting sections because it explained the difference between the religion and its enemies. It makes us understand what they believed that witchcraft was. No only a work from thet Devil. But the techniques he used. As it says that he looked for the weak ones. It also makes us understand why would someone decide to move from being a Puritan to being a witch. Most of all i liked it because there are alot of stories from when in America they used to kill however showed signs of being a witch. And I did understood that these strories are real and the reason the killed these women.
Salem 1692:
ReplyDeleteI think Salem 1692 was one of the most difficult time. I am very concerned how people are influenced both by their beliefs. Sometimes we reap for something and do not measure consequences. For this community superstitious, believing in the devil and witchcraft killed many innocent people. We have to be careful about our beliefs because sometimes the chosen path is not the most correct. We should not believe blindly and be fans of any belief. We must analyze the different situations. Fear, superstition and fanaticism lead to immoral behavior, immodest and improper that can affect both ourselves and to others. In this case influenced many things and people were more ignorant and uneducated. Despite our century we can not deny that even with more education are committed atrocities.
Tanisha Rodriguez 11-2
Salem 1692:
ReplyDeleteI think Salem 1692 was one of the most difficult time. I am very concerned how people are influenced both by their beliefs. Sometimes we reap for something and do not measure consequences. For this community superstitious, believing in the devil and witchcraft killed many innocent people. We have to be careful about our beliefs because sometimes the chosen path is not the most correct. We should not believe blindly and be fans of any belief. We must analyze the different situations. Fear, superstition and fanaticism lead to immoral behavior, immodest and improper that can affect both ourselves and to others. In this case influenced many things and people were more ignorant and uneducated. Despite our century we can not deny that even with more education are committed atrocities.
Tanisha Rodriguez 11-2
Even though this trails didn’t last much it really marked history. I think the kids had the hard life, because they were treated like adults at a young age. And this could really affect their growing, skipping throw stages of their life. A bad thing in Salem was that they believe everything without any proof and that is a very immature way to take any decision. They killed many innocent persons just by faith and the word of children. When first of all, children’s may lie and not know the consequences of their act because they are not still able to think the rational way adults think. Someone at the end had to spoke up and stand against this massacre, because it had gone too far. And this situation is not so far from our reality now, with the police and criminals having the power to do whatever they want and kill who they like.
ReplyDeleteBryan Vega 11`1
Religion and Witchcraft:
ReplyDeleteWhen you think about how strict religion was back then and compare it to what it's now you simply notice that nothing is not the same no more. I think they were simply hypocrites by judging one another without realizing that what they were doing was a major sin. I understand the fact that it was "God's will" but was it really fair to see them suffer, knowing you can help them out and still do nothing?. I think no one should judge one another just because they are "outcasts" inside their own little society and simply accuse them as something they were not. They had no prove, or at least that's what we think, and yet they still couldn't prove they were right. They simply accused people that are not living in their "sameness" as witches because they knew that they might be right. But when you thought of the fact that they might be right it would be like being on their side and then you will also be accused as witch and they would not believe you are not one so they will basically kill you and after you are dead is when they believe you were saying the truth all along. I think it wasn't fair for every innocent person that was accused and then tortured to death. Every puritan who tortured people just simply because they did different things had no rights to treat them like they were doing... If they wanted to be fair and stop this they could just had had some prove or something, but not kill hundreds of them just because.
-Pamela Soto 11-2
I chose the theme Puritan Children because it seemed to me so interesting how children weren’t able to be children. Little kids were forced to be adults doing chores and all of adult things. Any show of been a child was punished so technically children didn’t exist imagination and excitement didn’t exist. They couldn’t even play because puritans thought those were just distractions; at least boys were actually able to use their imagination while working; exploring outdoors, ect. Being a kid on that times must have been horrible children are meant to be free and happy and play. Maybe the way children were forbidden, had an effect in the 1692. Girls wanted attention so maybe that’s the reason of they became “bewitched”. Thinking everything twice maybe because of that al of the witches thing existed.!
ReplyDeleteAlondra Irizarry
Puritan children:
ReplyDeleteFrom my point of view, Puritan people were going to the extreme with all their beliefs. Children are curious from nature, and when this girls began acting how they did, people interpreted it as a sort of witchcraft related behavior. It was crazy, but it was reality. To live humbly, was part of the life style of that century. For puritans, this girls were acting childish and were misbehaving. I think that they had the wrong idea of what "simpleness" meant. All f this children were being prisoners of life itself. They had their childhood taken away from them.
I will continue reading during the weekend. Some of you were not careful regarding the criteria spelling and mechanics (spelling/grammar). See you on Monday.
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