5.3 reasons for the ending of the witch hunt Flashcards
(18 cards)
the roles of cotton mather’s father and governor phips: increase mather
September 1692
Phips/reverend
list of the accused was still growing, despite the number of executions
- Phips wife had now been implicated, and Reverend Samuel Willard
the roles of cotton mather’s father and governor phips: increase mather
Increase Mather, Cotton’s father’s work??
COCCESPM
- Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits Persecuting Men September 1692
the roles of cotton mather’s father and governor phips: increase mather
How did Mather argue against the cases?
- genuine cases of witchcraft were rare and much of the evidence used in the trials was dubious
the roles of cotton mather’s father and governor phips: increase mather
Mather’s sermons and the slowing of the craze
support vs criticisms.
- he made a number of sermons that were supportive of the trials themselves, but critical of spectral evidence
- Mather was well-respected, so godly Puritans began to listen to his warnings and accusations slowed.
the roles of cotton mather’s father and governor phips: governor phips
Why has it been suggested that he took religion very seriously
- to gain favour in the powerful Mather family.
the roles of cotton mather’s father and governor phips: governor phips
Where did Mather place Phips?
- in the post of Governor under the new charter.
the roles of cotton mather’s father and governor phips: governor phips
Phips initial attitude towards the trials: prisoners, court.
- he ordered prisoners to be put in chains and created the Court of Oyer and Terminer
the roles of cotton mather’s father and governor phips: governor phips
Who did Phips (hastefully) appoint as chief judge in the trials?
- William Stoughton
- he was notorious for his unrelenting persual of witches, along with demanding that spectral evidence be heard.
the roles of cotton mather’s father and governor phips: governor phips
first sign of Phips softening position?
- his decision to attempt to repreive to Rebecca Nurse
the roles of cotton mather’s father and governor phips: governor phips
When did Phips close the court? what happened to the prisoners?
investigation, jail, tituba.
- 26 October 1692
- those who were under investigation were released
- those who spent time in jail still had to find the money to cover their fees
- Tituba and John Indian were spared, but remained slaves.
the general pardon
what was the general pardon?
- Phips issued a general pardon in 1693, officially excusing 8 people whom Soughton had condemned to die in the latest round of trials
the general pardon
January 1693: New court and leader? what did Phips order?
- Superior Court of Judicature was established in Salem
- Stoughton led it
- he had not changed his opinions, but the pressure to avoid convictions was immense and Phips ordered him to discount spectral evidence
- first 5 prisoners were found not guilty.
the general pardon
Continuing evidence of innocents
not guilty.,
- charges were dismised against more prisoners, 3 were found guilty, but Phips pardoned them
- the court sat again at the end of the month, finding 5 people not guilty.
the general pardon
May 1963
SP, MB, EF, WB, MB.
- Susannah Post, Mary Bridges, Eunice Frye, William Barker and Mary Barker were found not guil.ty.
- this wsa heavily influenced by Phips
the general pardon
Letter to king william in 1693: who did phips criticise? how did he defend himself?
- Phips criticised Stoughton for allowing the craze to develop so extensively
- Phips defended himself, claiming he only setup the court under pressure from leading religous figures in Boston.
the general pardon
1695: Which law did London repeal?
1692, 1697
- a law passed by the Massachusetts legislature in 1692 that enabled swift prosecutions for witchcraft
- January 1697, one of the judges involved in the trial,s Samuel Sewall, apologised to Massachusetts and asked for forgiveness.
the general pardon
how did the girls react?
- they slowly began to apologise as they grew older and realised their errors
- 1711: compensation was paid to the families of the victims.
conclusion
Why did the witch craze become so widespread?
- Salem was deeply puritan
- indian threat
- role of children
- social divisions
- role of individuals (cotton, stoughton)
- Spectral evidence.
