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Defining Documents in American History: The Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials, which took place in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693, have become indicative of mass hysteria, religious extremism, and false accusations occurring outside the fair and just rule of law. But what may not be as commonly known is that they were part of a wider phenomenon at the time – a fear and prosecution of witchcraft stemming back to Europe in the 1400s that led to the deaths of upwards of 60,000 people, most of them women.
In Europe, these witch-hunts were notably severe in the Holy Roman Empire, and reached a peak between 1560 and 1630, also occurring in Scotland and England, as well as other European nations to varying degrees. As the fervor in Europe began to wane in the latter half of the 17th century, the sentiment continued in the fringes and made its way to the New World, with the earliest documented execution for witchcraft occurring in Connecticut in 1647.
Increasingly fearful and vitriolic rhetoric, publications attempting to prove the existence of witches and demons, and growing mass hysteria led to the dramatic and deadly events in Salem, in which more than 200 people were accused of witchcraft and more than 20 were put to death.
This volume presents thirty-one primary source documents including book excerpts, court opinions, debates, and interview letters, to name a few. From Joan of Arc’s trial and subsequent death sentence in 1431 to the Hollinwell Incident, witchcraft accusations have been present in society for centuries. The carefully selected documents included in this volume provide historical context and insights into the Salem witch trials.
The material is organized into four sections, each beginning with a brief introduction that examines the importance of the topic through a variety of historical documents:
- The Europenan Background
- New England and The Salem Witch Trials
- The Post-Witchhunt Era
- Modern Takes
The documents contained within these sections provide an overview of the historical context and significance of witchcraft accusations, exploring the Salem witch trials of 1692-1693 as well as the surrounding events and their influence on modern day echoes of hysteria.
Each Historical Document is supported by a critical essay, written by historians, teachers, and researchers, that includes a Summary Overview, Defining Moment, About the Author, Document Analysis, and Essential Themes.
An important feature of each essay is a close reading of the primary source that develops broader themes, such as the author’s rhetorical purpose, social or class position, point of view, and other relevant issues. Each essay also includes a section entitled Bibliography and Additional Reading that provides suggestions for further readings and research.
Appendices in this book include:
- Chronological List which arranges all documents by date;
- Web Resources, an annotated list of websites that offer valuable supplemental resources;
- Bibliography lists of helpful articles and books for further study
About the Series
The Defining Documents series provides in-depth commentary and analysis on the most important primary source documents in the United States and the world. The Defining Documents series is perfect for students, those researching a particular era, or anyone interested in world history. Visit www.salempress.com for more information about additional titles in this series.
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