Cotton Mather And Salem Witchcraft Trials - 1033 Words

Cotton Mather and the Salem Witchcraft Trials American Literature reveals that because of Cotton Mather’s writings there is knowledge of the Salem witchcraft trials in 1692. The research shows that most of the known stories and trials come from Cotton Mather. This essay will describe Cotton Mather, the Salem witchcraft Trials, and an insight on the information provided by Mather. Like his father before him, Cotton Mather took position as a pastor of the Second Church of Boston where he remained connected with that church from 1685, when he was ordained, until his death forty-three years later. It was mainly by his remorseless writing that he became one of the most notable of all New England Puritan ministers. Today Mather is often thought of as unsympathetic because of his part in the Salem witchcraft trials. Although he did not approve of all the trials, he had helped to stir up the wave of frantic fear by his Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcraft and Possessions. Late r he further pursued his inquiries into satanic possession with â€Å"Wonders of the Invisible World.† The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. These trials began after a group of young girls in Massachusetts claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several other locals of witchcraft. After this broke out a special court convened in Salem to â€Å"hear and determine† (Mather 328)Show MoreRelatedSalem Witch Hysteria And Trials1620 Words   |  7 PagesSalem Witch Hysteria and Trials Joshua Furman History 121: Early America to the Civil War Dr. Phillip Hamilton November 18, 2015  The Salem Witch Trial consisted of heinous accusations implicated by Cotton Mather which effected society as a hole and gave reasoning to the numerous amount of witch stories we hear today. Cotton Mather was the eldest son of Increase Mather, Massachusetts most influential and well known Puritan minister, and the grandson of John Cotton, Salem’s spiritualRead MoreCotton Mather : Provoker Of Catastrophe1009 Words   |  5 PagesCotton Mather: Provoker of Catastrophe For its witnesses, the Salem Witch Trials confirmed the reality of the invisible world of spirits. The catalyst was described as a man who had an interest in the actions of Satan. That man is Cotton Mather. Mather was born into a family of ministers, including Reverend John Cotton. Mather preached his first sermon as a teenager and was ordained in his early twenties. Cotton Mather is known for his unnecessary involvement with the Salem Witch Trials. With theRead MoreAccusation And Defense Of The Salem Witchcraft Trials1658 Words   |  7 PagesAccusation and defense in the Salem witchcraft trials Suraj Gamal History 1301-73001-73002 JOE L. MCCAMBRIDGE - HISTORY 1301-1302 One of the most infamous Trial in history took place on March 1, 1692. According, to the Library of Congress, Massachusetts authorities catechized Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and an Indian Slave, Tituba regarding their practice in witchcraft. The trial resulted in more than 150 men and women in and around Salem jailed on charges of practicing Witchcraft and Sorceries. NineteenRead MoreThe Social Psychology of the Salem Witch Trials1647 Words   |  7 PagesAmanda Whitsett Robison History 1301 November 17, 2010 The Social Psychology of the Salem Witch Trials The events that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 have had historians scrutinizing over the causes for years. There have been several theories about how the situation became so out of control. The haunting story is well known in America, taught to our youth and has been the focus of numerous forms of media. We are familiar with the story but unfamiliar with the origin of itsRead MoreThe Salem With Trials685 Words   |  3 PagesSalem Witch Trials The 17th century was filled with mystery because of the strong beliefs in the supernatural powers and the presence of Satan on Earth in the colonial North America. Witchcraft, the use of magical faculties, was mainly used by the peasants with a particular charm of being associated with the evil spirits and demons to prosper in their agricultural activities. In fact, many literatures were written on witchcraft during that period. For instance, Joseph Glanvill in 1668, claimed toRead MoreEssay on Cotton Mather and the Salem Witch Trials of 16922284 Words   |  10 PagesCotton Mather and the Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 took place in the Puritan community of Salem, Massachusetts. Cotton Mather, a clergyman in Salem, emerged throughout the course of the trials as a pillar of support and, ultimately, as a witch-hunter. However, his motives at the beginning of the trials were driven by his Puritanical reasoning which holds a strong belief in Biblical Law. Cotton Mather used his Puritanical faith to find reasoning in God that allowed the SalemRead MoreI Chose To Analyze The Primary Source Of â€Å"The Wonders Of1192 Words   |  5 PagesI chose to analyze the primary source of â€Å"The Wonders of the Invisible World,† written by Cotton Mather. He was born on February 12th of 1663 into a wealthy family of New England Puritan ministers. Cotton Mather started school at the age of twelve at Harvard College. He graduated and chose to become a member of the clergy but was unable to because of a speech impediment. He was able to overcome this however and a number of yea rs later he was ordained in 1685. He became a very revered and influentialRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials : Crisis1601 Words   |  7 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials: Crisis in Salem Village Many people know of the Salem witch trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in the year 1692 spilling over into the year 1693. But for those who do not know, the Salem witch trials were a series of trials against men, women, and children accused of being a witch and or practicing witchcraft. In â€Å"The Devils Snare: The Salem Witch Trials of 1692† by Mary Beth Norton, the author recollects the stories of real life accounts of those accusers andRead MoreWitch Hunt : Mysteries Of The Salem Witch Trials884 Words   |  4 Pages Witch-Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials. Marc Aronson. (New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, November 1, 2003. 272.) Written in 2003, Marc Aronson’s Witch-Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials tells of the truths and misconceptions of the horrors that occurred in 1692. In this book, Aronson examines the stories of the accused witches, the people who persecuted them, and the ones harmed by the supposed witchcraft. Marc Aronson opens his book by telling of how fairy tales andRead MoreSalem Witch Trials And The Crucible879 Words   |  4 PagesSalem Witch Trials These days, dressing up like a witch for Halloween is very normal. The year was 1962 when Salem Massachusetts was forever cemented in history because of the Salem witch trials. People accused of witch craft were imprisoned or hung and in one occasion a person was pressed to death. I can only imagine what the people of Salem were going through those days. There was a fear in the entire town because you couldn’t trust anyone. It became neighbor against neighbor as the small