What were Beliefs and attitudes about witches and witch craft?
According to British law, witch craft is illegal and anyone who is suspected of practicing witch craft is considered a felon. The first people to be accused were accused by a young girl, who stated she was possessed by the devil, accusing people of being witches. Historians now believe this girl was insane or was suffering from hysteria. Her accusations were what led to the following executions of suspected witches. People viewed witches as misfits that should be disposed of and taken out of society.
What characteristics did a witch have?
Most witches weren't accused because they had freakish warts or green skin, but because of knowledge they had or how they were viewed. Five Reasons are listed in the following chart:
1.They had knowledge about herbs and spices, therefore they knew how to make potions.
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2. Their parents or other family members were convicted or accused witches/wizards
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3. Because they were homeless or foreign, and they were viewed as weird and unusual
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4. Some people were simply accused because they were disliked.
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Many of the accused people never got to trial. In 1692, only 32% of the accused were tried. Most of the accused people showed no signs of being a witch, but they may have been disliked because they were homeless, or because someone wanted them to die a painful death.
How were they punished?
In total, a suspected 37 witches and wizards, the term for males who practiced witch craft, died in the Salem witch trials of 1692. Of these 37, 19 of them were hung on Gallows Hill. These hangings were done on four dates in 1692, which are June 10th, July 19th, August 19th, and September 22nd. about 4-17 witches died in jail waiting to either be executed or go to trial. The final accused wizard, whose name is Giles Corey, who was pressed to death when he failed to plead guilty or not guilty.
Many people accused were smart and found out how to escape. A loop hole was to get pregnant, because the baby was viewed as a regular human being and it was believed to be a sin to take away their chance of life. Overall, 141 women and 44 men were accused of practicing witch craft, leading to 29 convictions and 20 executions.
Many people accused were smart and found out how to escape. A loop hole was to get pregnant, because the baby was viewed as a regular human being and it was believed to be a sin to take away their chance of life. Overall, 141 women and 44 men were accused of practicing witch craft, leading to 29 convictions and 20 executions.