Salem Witch Trials
Henry Whitehead
Who and Why
Elizabeth, and Abigail Williams. They started to accuse people because as children they screamed, threw things, uttered peculiar sounds and contorted themselves into strange positions. The one said the Devil came to me and bid me serve him. She described elaborate images of black dogs, red cats, yellow birds and a "black man" who wanted her to sign his book. She admitted that she signed the book and said there were several other witches looking to destroy the Puritans. Young females that did abnormal things as children.
How
To see if they were a witch they put them in a steel cage, and threw them into the water. Then opened it, and if they floated to the surface they were a witch. If they drown they are not witches.
They were all hung, and there was only 1 that was pressed. Pressed means they were laid down, and they tied them down. after they were tied down they had several huge rocks put on there chest until they died. If you could recite the gods prayers it was said that you were not a witch.
Citations
"Smithsonian.com." Smithsonian Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
"Salem's Most Visited Museum." Salem Witch Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
"Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive." Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.