Witchcraft Trials Compare & Contrast

Look at the Infographic on witch trials. How does the chart support what the article states about who was accused of witchcraft?

• The number of people accused were 21 in total.

• The majority of those who were accused were mostly men and women.

• Women were mostly accused of being witches.

• The infographic does not support information from the article.

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Based on the article, what does the infographic not convey about the reasons behind the outbreak of hysteria that people were experiencing?

• Massachusetts experienced the coldest winters in history.

• Wars and attacks affected the people.

• People were experiencing a smallpox outbreak.

• None of the above

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Look at the chart "Demographics" Then read the excerpt below.

“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.”

How does the visual of the chart impact the reader’s understanding of the following excerpt?

• It illustrates that most people were women whose husbands have recently passed away from Indian attacks.

• It supports the idea that people who were accusing landowners of witchcraft to acquire more land for themselves.

• It provides details to show the different types of people who were being accused of witchcraft.

• It highlights the difference between how many rich people versus poor people were wrongly accused of witchcraft.

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Read the excerpt below.

“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."

Which of the following viewpoints of the author does the article BEST support?

• Girls being bewitched is very real which is why it spreads so quickly.

• Witchcraft was a way to get attention to prove to men that women had some power.

• The true account of Salem’s witch trials will only be known to those who experienced it firsthand..

• With everything that happened in Salem, Massachusetts witchcraft was a fake period of time that people made up through time.

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This question has two parts. First answer Part A, then answer Part B.

Part A: Re-read paragraphs (4-8). What do the examples of witchcraft evidence mentioned in the article demonstrate about the author’s point of view?

• The process was complicated.

• The process was fair.

• The process was entertaining.

• The process was unjust.

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Part B: Select two pieces of evidence that show the development of the author's point of view.

• “Confession seems foolhardy to a defendant who is certain of his or her innocence. .” (Paragraph 8)

• “Any birthmarks, warts, moles, or other blemishes were seen as possible portals through which Satan could enter a body” (Paragraph 5).

• “None of the confessors were executed. .” (Paragraph 8).

• “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.” (Paragraph 4)

• “Part of repentance might of course include helping to convict others.”(Paragraph 8)

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