During the Salem witch trials in the late 17th century, the governor of Massachusetts, Sir William Phips, made the decision to stop the arrests of suspected witches. There were several factors that influenced his decision. Firstly, increasing doubts and uncertainties were emerging within the community regarding the legitimacy of the witch trials. Many people began to question the credibility of the accusers and the validity of the evidence presented. This skepticism was further fueled by the fact that some of the accusers themselves were later accused of witchcraft. As these doubts grew, it became increasingly difficult to justify the continuation of the arrests.
3g. Witchcraft in Salem
George Jacobs Sr. and his granddaughter Margaret were both accused of witchcraft, but Margaret managed to escape harm by claiming that Grandpa was indeed a witch. He was convicted and hanged in August 1692.
Surely the Devil had come to Salem in 1692. Young girls screaming and barking like a dog? Strange dances in the woods? This was behavior hardly becoming of virtuous teenage maidens. The town doctor was called onto the scene. After a thorough examination, he concluded quite simply — the girls were bewitched. Now the task was clear. Whomever was responsible for this outrage must be brought to justice.
The ordeal originated in the home of Salem's Reverend Samuel Parris . Parris had a slave from the Caribbean named Tituba . Several of the town's teenage girls began to gather in the kitchen with Tituba early in 1692. As winter turned to spring the townspeople were aghast at the behaviors exhibited by Tituba's young followers. They were believed to have danced a black magic dance in the nearby woods. Several of the girls would fall to the floor and scream hysterically. Soon this behavior began to spread across Salem. Ministers from nearby communities came to Salem to lend their sage advice. The talk turned to identifying the parties responsible for this mess.
"There's no place like Salem. There's no place like Salem. "
Puritans believed that to become bewitched a witch must draw an individual under a spell. The girls could not have possibly brought this condition onto themselves. Soon they were questioned and forced to name their tormentors. Three townspeople, including Tituba, were named as witches. The famous Salem witchcraft trials began as the girls began to name more and more community members.
Evidence admitted in such trials was of five types. First, the accused might be asked to pass a test, like reciting the Lord's Prayer. This seems simple enough. But the young girls who attended the trial were known to scream and writhe on the floor in the middle of the test. It is easy to understand why some could not pass.
Second, physical evidence was considered. Any birthmarks, warts, moles, or other blemishes were seen as possible portals through which Satan could enter a body.
Witness testimony was a third consideration. Anyone who could attribute their misfortune to the sorcery of an accused person might help get a conviction.
Fourth was spectral evidence. Puritans believed that Satan could not take the form of any unwilling person. Therefore, if anyone saw a ghost or spirit in the form of the accused, the person in question must be a witch.
The Trial of Rebecca Nurse
Last was the confession . Confession seems foolhardy to a defendant who is certain of his or her innocence. In many cases, it was the only way out. A confessor would tearfully throw himself or herself on the mercy of the town and court and promise repentance. None of the confessors were executed. Part of repentance might of course include helping to convict others.
As 1692 passed into 1693, the hysteria began to lose steam. The governor of the colony, upon hearing that his own wife was accused of witchcraft ordered an end to the trials. However, 20 people and 2 dogs were executed for the crime of witchcraft in Salem. One person was pressed to death under a pile of stones for refusing to testify.
No one knows the truth behind what happened in Salem. Once witchcraft is ruled out, other important factors come to light. Salem had suffered greatly in recent years from Indian attacks. As the town became more populated, land became harder and harder to acquire. A smallpox epidemic had broken out at the beginning of the decade. Massachusetts was experiencing some of the worst winters in memory. The motives of the young girls themselves can be questioned. In a society where women had no power, particularly young women, is it not understandable how a few adolescent girls, drunk with unforeseen attention, allowed their imaginations to run wild? Historians make educated guesses, but the real answers lie with the ages.
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Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials
It all started with the odd behavior of two young girls, but soon enough hysteria and chaos enveloped the town of Salem, Massachusetts. Although the trials lasted only a short time, the city of Salem continues to commemorate the events that put it on the map. This website, from the city of Salem, offers an illustrated overview of the witch hunts and trials with links to notable sites and memorials.
Salem Witch Trials Chronology
The hysteria began on January 20, 1692, and lasted through November 25 of the same year. This chronology describes the day-by-day events leading up to the trials and the trials themselves.
The Salem Witch Museum
It isn't Salem's most-visited museum for nothing. The Salem Witch Museum offers much information about the Salem trials, a virtual tour to other nearby towns caught up in the witch hysteria, and some photographs.
Salem Witch Trials
This site presents lots of information on the trials, including biographies of the accused, trial transcripts, a quiz, a timeline, FAQs, and more. Click on "The Afflicted" to see statistics for the "victims" of the accused. Of these 43 "victims," 27 were between the ages of 11 and 20, 34 were single, and 37 were women.
Read transcripts of the trials of Rebecca Nurse, Bridget Bishop, and others. Salem Witch Trials Quiz
Know enough about the Salem witch trials yet? Take this quiz to find out.
Associated Daughters of Early American Witches
There really is an organization for everyone. Any woman who can trace her heritage back to one of the original accused — qualifies for membership in the ADEAW. The respected organization is devoted to charity, service, and the rememberance of its ancestors.
Arthur Miller's The Crucible : Fact & Fiction
A scholar of the Salem witch trials provides her take on Arthur Miller's play The Crucible , which was inspired by the trials. She includes a long list of historical inaccuracies in the play, but also mentions inaccuracies that Miller was aware of and took poetic license with. This site also includes helpful questions for paper topics.
William Phips, the Massachusetts Governor Who Got Tough on Witchcraft
In the year 1692, Massachusetts’ new royal governor William Phips decided he needed to get tough on witchcraft. The colony was losing the war against the French and Indians in Maine, just 10 years after the devastation of King Philip’s War. Refugees from Maine had streamed into Massachusetts, and many families had lost loved ones in the conflict. Not only were times hard, but the King had raised taxes to pay for the war.
Devout Puritans found this turn of events difficult to accept. For five decades, John Winthrop’s City on a Hill had grown and prospered. But now, it seemed, God was displeased. People stopped going to church, tippled in taverns and violated the dress code — evidence that Satan had undermined the great Puritan experiment.
William Phips, the governor who got tough on witchcraft.
On top of all that, Massachusetts’ leaders split into factions after King James II had recently tried and failed to combine the New England and Mid-Atlantic colonies into one.
In such turbulent times, Phips had to do something to hang on to power. He resorted to the politician’s tried-and-true tactic of cracking down on crime. Only in his case, he got tough on witchcraft.
As these doubts grew, it became increasingly difficult to justify the continuation of the arrests. Secondly, the arrests and trials were causing a significant strain on the community and its resources. With numerous arrests being made, the jails were becoming overcrowded and the court system was overwhelmed with cases.
Getting Tough on Witchcraft
Phips was not your average Puritan leader. He came neither from England nor Massachusetts, but from the District of Maine, and Maine was a scary place in 1692. After the devastating losses of King Philip’s War (1675-1678), many surviving natives fled to Maine and, with their French allies, began another war. This was not a distant conflict. As the French and Indians leveled entire communities, refugees streamed into Salem and nearby towns. Men from Salem had lost their lives in Maine battles, and the war came frighteningly close.
People who came from Maine, therefore, had the whiff of the devil about them.
Phips grew up in present-day Woolwich, a frontier trading post, and never had an education. He was born on Feb. 2, 1651, one of 25 siblings, according to Cotton Mather (though that could be an exaggeration).
In addition to being a Mainer, there was something else scary about William Phips. He had won a knighthood by recovering a sunken Spanish galleon near Hispaniola. The shipwreck carried about $20 million in gold by today’s standards. Some suspected he’d found the gold through the magic arts. Others called him a pirate.
He had a couple of other strikes against him. He and his wife had no children of their own, and witches were believed barren. In his household, he had two suspect servants: one an enslaved black man, the other a French Catholic servant.
This not only hindered the functioning of the legal system but also disrupted daily life in Salem. The governor, being aware of these challenges, likely considered the practical implications of continuing the arrests and deemed it necessary to ease the burden on the community. Furthermore, influences from outside the community played a role in the governor's decision. In particular, influential figures from Boston, where Phips himself resided, voiced their concerns about the trials. They questioned the fairness and integrity of the proceedings and urged Phips to intervene and halt the arrests. This external pressure may have influenced his decision to bring an end to the witch trials. Additionally, Phips faced political pressures and considerations. The witch trials were damaging the reputation of Massachusetts and causing controversy throughout the colonies. This negative publicity threatened to undermine the stability and legitimacy of the colonial government. Recognizing these political implications, the governor likely made the decision to stop the arrests in order to protect the reputation and authority of the colonial administration. In conclusion, the governor's decision to stop the arrests of suspected witches in Salem was influenced by a combination of factors. Rising doubts and uncertainties within the community, strains on resources and the legal system, external pressures from influential figures, and political considerations all contributed to his ultimate decision. These influences collectively led to the end of the Salem witch trials and the subsequent change in the trajectory of the colonial justice system..
Reviews for "Legal Perspectives on the Governor's Decision to Stop the Arrests of Suspected Witches"
1. Jane - 2 stars
I found "What influenced the governor to stop the arrests of suspected witches" to be quite disappointing. The author seemed to rely too heavily on speculation and conjecture rather than providing solid evidence or well-researched analysis. The arguments presented were weak and lacked depth, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and unconvinced. Overall, I found the book to be a missed opportunity to explore the complex factors that influenced the governor's decision.
2. Mark - 1 star
I cannot recommend "What influenced the governor to stop the arrests of suspected witches." The book feels poorly researched and lacks substance. The author's arguments are flimsy and fail to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. In addition, the writing style is dull and uninspiring, making it difficult to stay engaged. I was expecting a more thorough examination of the historical context and the various influences at play, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I was looking forward to reading "What influenced the governor to stop the arrests of suspected witches," but I was ultimately disappointed. The author's analysis lacked depth and failed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. The book seemed hastily put together, with weak arguments and a lack of credible sources. I would have appreciated a more in-depth exploration of the historical context and a stronger argumentation. Overall, this book did not live up to my expectations and left me wanting more insightful analysis.