ColdCaseFiles:
SolvingtheMysteryoftheSalemWitchTrials
“Oftenthepastisattractiveasameanstosaysomethingaboutthepresent.”-ArthurMiller
Overview
StudentsassumetherolesofdetectivesastheyinvestigatetheoccurrencesduringtheSalemWitchTrials.
TheyalsoassumetherolesoflawyersandexploretheprinciplesofAmericandemocracythroughthe
documentsandlawsthataremeanttoprotectcitizensfromsuchunjusttreatmentinmodernhistory.
Grade
10
NCEssentialStandardsforAmericanHistory:theFoundingPrinciples,Civics&Economics
• FP.C&G.1.4-AnalyzetheprinciplesandidealsunderlyingAmericandemocracyintermsofhowthey
promotefreedom(i.e.separationofpowers,ruleoflaw,limitedgovernment,democracy,consentofthe
governed/individualrights–life,liberty,pursuitofhappiness,self-government,representative
democracy,equalopportunity,equalprotectionunderthelaw,diversity,patriotism,etc.
• FP.C&G.3.4-Explainhowindividualrightsareprotectedbyvarietiesoflaw(e.g.,BillofRights,Supreme
CourtDecisions,constitutionallaw,criminallaw,civillaw,Tort,Administrativelaw,Statutorylawand
Internationallaw,etc.
EssentialQuestions
• WhatPuritanbeliefsandpracticesallowedforaneventliketheSalemWitchTrialstooccur?
• Howdoconceptssuchasdistrust,fear,masshysteria,conformity,conspiracy,calumny,andpersonal
integrityimpactindividual’sdailyinteractionsandchoicesinPuritanMassachusetts?
• WhatvaluesandprinciplesofAmericandemocracyweredefiedduringtheSalemWitchTrials?
• HowdoestheConstitutionandtheBillofRightsestablishprotectionsthatwereviolatedduringtheSalem
WitchTrials?
• Howarethe1692Salemeventsrepresentativeofotherhistoricalevents?
Materials
• AnUnsolvedCrime,handoutattached
• SalemWitchTrials6minuteFlashMovie,freedownloadat:
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/story/(Acomputerwith
internetaccessandaprojectorwillbeneededtoshowthevideo.)
• DefinitionEssayonJustice,optionalassignmentattached
Duration
Oneblockperiod
Procedure
WarmUp:SomeoneintheClassisCHEATING!
1. AsawarmuptoleadintothethemesoftheSalemWitchTrials,saysomethingsimilartothefollowingto
theclass,makingwhatyousayseemasbelievableaspossible:
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Ithascometomyattentionthatsomeindividualsinthisclassbelievecheatingisanappropriatetool
forperformingwellinclass;infact,Iunderstandthisgrouppromotescheatingtoothers,encouraging
themtofollowtheirlead.
Isuspectthatmanyoftheseindividualsandtheirnew-foundfollowerswereactiveyesterdaywhile
takingourquiz.(Substituteanytypeofgradedworkdoneinthepreviousweekofclassifaquizwas
notgiven).Ialsoknowthatsomepeopleinthisclasswerenotinvolvedatall.
BecauseIamnotexactlysurewhoinvolvedandwhowasn’t,theentireclassissuspectasyouallget
alongwellandhangouttogetheroutsideofclass.
Thus,youwillallcomebeforetheprincipalandme.Ifyouchoosetocooperateandtorevealthe
name(s)ofthecheaters,thenyouwillnotbepunishedregardlessofwhetherornotyou,too,area
cheater.Ifyoudonotcooperate,theprincipalandIwillmakesureyourpersonalrecordnotesyouasa
“cheater”regardlessofwhetherornotyouare.Wemusthavethesenamesascheatingisaserious
offense.
Theprincipalandanassistantprincipalwillarrivewithinfiveminutes.Idon’twantanydiscussion,butI
wantallofyoutothinklongandhardaboutwhetherornotyouareacheater.
Remember,youcansaveyourself,oryoucanhaveaflawedacademicrecord.
•
2. Allowthestudentstomuddleoverthisdilemmaforseveralminuteswhileyou“waitfortheprincipalto
arrive.”Then,informstudentsyoufeelyoushouldgivethemsomeadvice,andask:
• Whatareyougoingtodo?Areyougoingtosaveyourselvesandrevealthecheaters?
• Areyougoingtosacrificesomeoneelse’sreputationforyourown?
• Areyougoingtostandupforyourself?”
• Wouldyouturninsomeoneyouknowdidnotcheattosaveyourself?
• Wouldyouadmittocheatingevenifyoudidn’t?
• Woulditbeworthittostandupforyourpersonalintegrity,fortheprincipleoftruth,foryourmorals
eventhoughdoingsomeansyourrecordwillbeforevertainted?
• Howdoyoufeelaboutthissituation?IsitfairthattheprincipalandIintendtoquestioneveryone?
• ShouldIhavemoreevidencethatpointstojustafew–therealcheaters?
3. Finally,letstudentsknowthattherehasnotbeenanycheating,andthattheyarenotactuallybeing
questioned.Apologizefordupingthembutexplainthatasituationsimilarbutmuchmoreextreme
happenedinSalem,Massachusettsin1692.Amajordifference,however,wasthatratherthanfacethe
riskofsuspension,thoseaccusedfacedtortureanddeath.
IntroductiontotheSalemWitchTrials
4. IntroducestudentstothekeyeventsoftheSalemWitchTrials:
• In1692,nineteeninnocentmenandwomenwerechargedandhangedforwitchcraftinSalemVillage,
Massachusetts.Anoldmanwaspressedtodeathunderapileofstones.Fourothersdiedinjail
awaitingtrials.
• Thesenineteenwereaccusedbyagroupofadolescentgirlswhohadpreviouslybeencaughtdancing
andconjuringwithanenslavedwomannamedTituba.
• Infearofbeingcaughtandpunished,thegirlsbeganplacingblameonothersclaimingtheywere
bewitchedbythem.
• TerrorandmasshysteriaspreadthroughoutSalemastheideaofthe“Devil”andwitcherybecameall
tooreal.Manywerefearfulthatwitchcraftwouldspreadlikewildfire,andthus,theybelievedthe
accusationsandbecamepartoftheaccusers.
• Over100peoplewereaccused.Howdidavillagegetcaughtupinsuchmadness?
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5. Tofurtherpeakstudent’sinterestandcuriosity,playthe6minuteflashmulti-mediavideoasanoverview
oftheSalemWitchTrials,availableforfreedownloadat:
http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/story/
6. Next,dividestudentsintosmallgroups,andhandouttheattachedAnUnsolvedCrime:TheSalemWitch
Trials.Givestudentsanoverviewoftheactivity,explainingthattheywillbeassumingtheroleofcoldcase
detectivesinanattempttofigureoutwhathappenedin1692.Ifpossible,alloweachgroupaccesstothe
internetsothattheymayuncovermorefactsthanwhatisprovidedonthehandout.Referstudentstothe
websiteslistedattheendofthislessonunderResources.Allowforaround20-30minutesofstudent
“detectivework.”Whengroupshavecompletedtheirtheory,allowthemtopresenttotheclassand
discuss:
• WhowerethekeyplayersintheSalemWitchTrials,andhowdidtheycontributetothe“plot”?
(discussfiguressuchas:CottonMather,AnnePutnam,RebeccaNurse,JohnWinthrop,SarahGood,
SamuelParris,JamesII,JohnProctor,Tituba,ElizabethParris,MaryEasty,AbigailWilliams,Cotton
Mather)
• Whatarethepossibleexplanationsofwhatcausedthisoccurrence?Ensurethefollowinggets
mentioned:
§ PuritanClergyencouragedtheexcitementaroundthetrialstorestoretheirdwindlingpower.
§ HysteriarosebecausewitchcraftdidexistandwaspracticedintheMassachusettsBayColony.
§ TherecentappointmentofaRoyalGovernorcausedasenseoflostautonomyandpolitical
anxiety.
§ CabinFeverspreadamongstthembecauseoftheharshNewEnglandweather.
§ Certainindigenousherbsmayhavecausedhallucinationssimilartothoseexperiencedbythe
girls.
§ RepressiveelementsofthePuritanreligionandsocietymayhavecontributedtothis“acting
out.”
§ Theaccusationsandtrialswereusedtoasameansofcontrol(competitionoverlanddisputes,
communityboundaries,andthesettlingoffamilywills).
• WhatroledidthefollowingthemesplayintheSalemWitchTrials:religiousfanaticism?Scapegoats?
Masshysteria?Fear?Bandwagonmentality?Power?
• Whatmentalities,inyouropinion,mayhaveledmembersofSalemVillagetobeginpersecutingtheir
neighborsandfriends?Explainyouranswer.
• WhatrationalfearswereatplayduringtheSalemWitchTrials?Whatirrationalfearswereatplay?
• HowmightthegeographyofSalemhavecontributedtotheSalemWitchTrials?(DiscusstheMAcold,
graywinter,andhowthatmighthaveaffectedmoodandmentalities.)
• Howmighteconomicinterestsand/orthediversityofthepeopleofSalemTownandVillagehave
contributed?
• Doyoufindthesetrialstobemorerelatedtoeconomic,social,religious,orpoliticalissues?Explain.
• Inyouropinion,whatisthemostplausibleexplanationofwhatoccurredinSalem?
• Ofthekeyplayers,orotherindividualsyoureadabout,whoseemsmostculpableinthecontinuance
ofthetrialsandtherelateddeaths?Explain.
7. EncouragestudentstobeginrelatingtheSalemWitchTrialstoconceptsofAmericandemocracy.Discuss:
• IdentifyotherhistoricalandcurrentexamplesthatconnecttotheSalemWitchTrials.Whenhave
peoplesimilarlybehaved?
• Doyoubelieveasimilareventcouldhappenagain?Whyorwhynot?
• WhatvaluesandprinciplesofAmericandemocracyweredefiedduringtheSalemWitchTrials?Explain.
• Whatgovernmentaldocuments,amendments,laws,rights,etc.wouldassisttoprohibitthisfrom
occurringinmodernsociety?(i.e.freedomsofexpression,searchandseizure,dueprocess,self
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incrimination,rightsofthoseaccused,speedyandpublictrial,trialbyjury,finesandpunishments,
etc.)
8. Next,givestudentsthefollowinginstructionstocompleteintheirgroups(thiscanalsobeusedasan
individualassignmentorahomeworkextension):
• Yourdetectiveteamisnowaprosecutor’steam.Imaginethatyourepresentoneofthevictimsfrom
theSalemWitchTrials,whowishestosuethetownofficialsofSalem,MAfortheinjusticethey
experiencedattheirhands.Usinganydocuments,amendments,laws,rights,etc.frompastorpresent,
formulateacasehighlightingwhyyourchosenvictimwaswrongfullytreated.Prepareastatement,
usingasmuchevidenceasyoucan,toprovehis/hertreatmentwasundemocraticand
unconstitutional.
9. Allowstudentstopresenttheircasestotheclassanddiscuss.Whentheprosecutinggrouppresents,the
restoftheclasscanassumetheroleofthedefenseteam,andattempttochallengetheevidencethe
prosecutorshavepresented.Encouragestudentsoneithersidetobackupstatementsandideaswith
evidence.
CulminatingActivities/Assessments
• HavestudentswriteanewspapereditorialdiscussingwhattheybelievetrulyhappenedinSalemandwhat
lessonstheUnitedStatescanlearnaboutdemocracyfromtheSalemWitchcraftTrials.Thiseditorial
shouldbeatleastonepageandshouldbepersuasive.
• AssigntheattachedDefinitionEssayonJustice
Resources
• FamousAmericanTrials:SalemWitchcraftTrials:
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SALEM.HTM
• WhatAboutWitches:http://www.salemweb.com/guide/witches.shtml
• TheSalemWitchTrials:AChronologyofEvents:http://www.salemweb.com/memorial/
• TheSalemWitchMuseum:http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/
• NationalGeographicInteractiveLesson:http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/salem/
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AnUnsolvedCrime:TheSalemWitchTrials
InthecolonyofMassachusettsin1692,19innocentmenandwomenwerehangedforwitchcraft.Anoldman
waspressedtodeathunderheavystonesforrefusingtostandtrial.Fourotherdiedinjailastheyawaited
trial.Howdidavillagegetcaughtupinsuchmadness?Whatreallycausedthishysteriain1692?
Yourgrouphasbeenhiredasthe“ColdCase”detectiveunittotryandfigureoutexactlywhathappened
over300yearsagoinSalem,MA.Readtheinformationbelow,whichcontainsmanyimportantfactsthat
mayhavecontributedtothisinsanity,thencreateatheorystatingwhatyoubelievecausedthevillageof
Salemtokill24peopleforbeing“witches.”
Readthefollowinginformationthatremainsinthe“casefile,”pullingoutimportantcluesthatmayhave
leadtothewitchtrialsoccurringandgettingsooutofhand.Paycloseattentiontosomeofthephrasesthat
havebeenunderlinedforyou.Howmightthesethingshavecontributedtotheparanoiaanddrama?
EvidenceSetA:LifeinSalem,Massachusetts,1692
Twenty-fourinnocentvictimslosttheirlivesintheSalemwitchcrafthysteria.HowdidthecommunityofSalem
letthistragedyhappen?Wasitsimplyfearandsuperstition,orwerethereotherfactorsatwork?
Theeventsof1692tookplaceduringadifficultandconfusingperiodforSalemVillage.Aspartofthe
MassachusettsBayColony,SalemwasunderBritishrule.Whenthehysteriabegan,thecolonywaswaitingfor
anewgovernorandhadnochartertoenforcelaws.Bythetimethenewgovernor,WilliamPhips,arrivedin
Massachusetts,thejailswerealreadyfilledwithallegedwitches.Tomakemattersworse,NewEnglandtowns
wereunderattackbyNativeAmericansandFrenchCanadians.
SalemVillagefaceddailychallengesclosertohomeaswell.Mostfamilieshadtosupportthemselves,making
theirownclothes,plantingvegetables,raisingmeat.Farmingwasoftenapainstakingtaskintheharsh
climateandrough,rockyterrain—andadroughtorfloodcouldruinayear’sharvest.Anepidemicofsmallpox
couldkillafamily.InaworldwherepeoplesawtheDevillurkingbehindverymisfortune,itislittlewonder
theybelievedevilspiritswereatwork.
Cluesyoufoundintheabovesection(whatdidyoureadandinferthatmighthaveaddedtoanenvironment
thatleadtosuchviolence):
1
______
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3
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EvidenceSetB:ReligionandWitchcraftin1692
Churchwasthecornerstoneof17thcenturylifeinNewEngland.MostpeopleinMassachusettswere
Puritans—colonistswhohadleftEnglandseekingreligioustolerance.ButthestrictPuritancodewasfarfrom
tolerant.Itwasagainstthelawnottoattendchurch—wheremenandwomensatonoppositesidesthrough
longservices.ThePuritanlifestylewasrestrainedandrigid.Peoplewereexpectedtoworkhardandrepress
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theiremotionsoropinions.Individualdifferenceswerefrownedupon.Eventhedark,somberPuritandress
wasdictatedbythechurch.
SincePuritanswereexpectedtolivebyarigidmoralcode,theybelievedthatallsins—fromsleepinginchurch
tostalingfood—shouldbepunished.TheyalsobelievedGodwouldpunishsinfulbehavior.Whenaneighbor
wouldsuffermisfortune,suchasasickchildorafailedcrop,PuritanssawitasGod’swillanddidnothelp.
PuritansalsobelievedtheDevilwasasrealasGod.Everyonewasfacedwiththestrugglebetweenthepowers
ofgoodandevil,butcolonistsbelievedthatSatanwouldselecttheweakestindividuals—women,children,the
insane—tocarryouthiswork.ThosewhofollowedSatanwereconsideredwitches.Witchcraftwasoneofthe
greatestcrimesapersoncouldcommit,punishablebydeathinthe17thcentury.
InkeepingwiththePuritancodeofconformity,thefirstwomentobeaccusedofwitchcraftinSalemwere
seenasdifferentandassocialoutcasts:Tituba,aCaribbeanslave;SarahGood,ahomelessbeggar;andSarah
Osborne,asicklyoldwomanwhomarriedherservant.
FearofmagicandwitchcraftwascommoninNewEngland,asithadbeeninEuropeforcenturies.Over100
allegedwitchesweretriedandhangedinNewEnglandduringthe1600s,withthehangingsin1692Salem
beingthelastonesinAmerica.
Cluesyoufoundintheabovesection(whatdidyoureadandinferthatmighthaveaddedtoanenvironment
thatleadtosuchviolence):
1
2
3
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EvidenceSetC:PuritanChildren
In1692,childrenwereexpectedtobehaveunderthesamestrictcodeastheadults—doingchores,attending
churchservices,andrepressingindividualdifferences.Anyshowofemotion,suchasexcitement,fear,or
anger,wasdiscouragedanddisobediencewasseverelypunished.Childrenrarelyplayed,astoysandgames
werescarce.Puritanssawtheseactivitiesassinfuldistractions.
Butunlikeyounggirls,boyshadafewoutletsfortheirimagination.Theyoftenworkedasapprenticesoutside
thehome,practicingsuchskillsascarpentryorcrafts.Boyswerealsoallowedtoexploretheoutdoors,
huntingandfishing.Ontheotherhand,girlswereexpectedtotentothehouse,helpingtheirmotherscook,
wash,clean,andsew.
Manychildrenlearnedtoread,butmosthouseholdsownedonlytheBibleandotherreligiousworks—
includingafewthatdescribedevilspiritsandwitchcraftingreatdetail.Therewereafewbookswrittenfor
children,buttheseoftenwarnedagainstbadbehavioranddescribedthepunishmentthatchildrenwould
sufferforsinfulacts.
SuchwastheworldofAbigailWilliamsandBettyParrisduringthelong,darkwinterof1692.Therewaslittle
tofeedtheirimaginationthatdidnotwarnofsinandeternalpunishment.Itisnowonderthattheyounggirls
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weresocaptivatedbyTituba’smagicalstoriesandfortune-tellinggames.Theseactivitieswerestrictly
forbidden,whichmusthavefilledthemwithfearandguilt.Thismayhavebeenonereasonfortheirhysterical
behavior.Andatatimewhenyounggirlswereforbiddentoactoutorexpressthemselves,itiseasytosee
whytheyweresoenrapturedbytheattentiontheyreceivedwhentheybecame“bewitched.”
Ofcourse,therewereprobablymanyfactorsbehindthegirls’actions.Butwhatismoresurprisingthanthe
accusationsfromtheseimaginativeyounggirlsisthereactionfromthecommunity.Thegirlsmayhave
sparkedthewitchhunt,butitwastheadultswhosetthewheelsintomotion.
Cluesyoufoundintheabovesection(whatdidyoureadandinferthatmighthaveaddedtoanenvironment
thatleadtosuchviolence):
1
2
3
4
Doyourdetectivework!
Nowit’stimetostartdoingsomerealdetectivework.UsingtheInternetandbasedonwhatyouhaveread,
createagenerallistofkeyplayersfromtheSalemWitchTrialstoserveasaprimesuspectlist.Remember,a
suspectisanyoneyouareinterestedininterviewingtofindouttheirinvolvementinthesituation.Listatleast
8suspectsbelow.
1.
5.
2.
6.
3.
7.
4.
8.
Imaginethatyouareabletointerviewthesesuspects.Createfivequestionsyouwouldwanttoaskinyour
interrogation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Thinkingbackonwhatyouhavereadanddiscussedwithyourdetectiveteam,andnowputtingallofyour
cluestogether,formatheoryregardingwhatyoubelievecausedtheSalemWitchTrialstooccur.Beclear,be
specific,andbackupyourtheorywithexamplesfromthetext.Yourteamwillpresentyourtheorytotherest
ofclassinanattempttoconvincethemthatyoualonehalvesolvedthecase.Usenotebookpaperto
brainstormandprepareyourgroup’sfinaltheory.
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