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Activity
Washington State University

Washington State University: Literary Movements: Salem Witch Trials

For Students 9th - 10th
A survey of the Salem Witch Trials as well as its background in seventeenth-century colonial New England. Includes descriptions of the accused and analysis of the reasons for the outbreak of witchcraft accusations, a bibliography,...
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Handout
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Medieval Sourcebook: Witchcraft Documents (15Th Century)

For Students 9th - 10th
Fordham University offers three documents about witchcraft in the 15th Century. Included is a Papal bull where the Pope provides a blessing and encouragement to witch hunting.
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Article
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: The Witchcraft Trials in Salem: A Commentary

For Students 9th - 10th
A concise yet detailed historical note about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, its participants, and background. Discusses the legal proceedings and explains changes which have occurred in the American justice system since then, with...
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Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Petitions for Compensation

For Students 9th - 10th
The text of these petitions, filed by Isaac Easty and William Good in 1710, request compensation for the prosecution of family members for witchcraft. Also included is Governor Dudley's order for payment of damages.
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Website
George Mason University

Women in World History Project: Early Modern Period: Manual, Witch Hunters

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an excerpt from the Malleus Maleficarum, the manual used during the European witch hunts to identify witches, most of whom were believed to be women.
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Activity
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Governor William Phips

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical sketch and portrait of Sir William Phips (1651-1695), governor of Massachusetts. Explains Phips role in setting up the Court of Oyer and Terminer in May of 1692 to hear witch trial evidence, and his actions in October 1692...
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Activity
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials Chronology of Events

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a detailed chronology of the events related to the Salem Witch Trials, beginning with the settling of Salem (1629) and the adoption of the English law (1641) making witchcraft a capital crime. It covers all the major...
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Graphic
University of Tulsa

University of Tulsa: Witches and Witchtrials in England

For Students 9th - 10th
This website provides detailed information about witches and witchtrials in England. Site contains dates, locations, names, charge and sentence. Also provides sources.
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Handout
Other

Case Study: The European Witch Hunts, C. 1450 1750

For Students 9th - 10th
This website expounds on the European witch-hunts between 1450 and 1750. The site also contains information about current day witch-hunts. The site mentions gendercide, publications, male witches, the numbers who were murdered and modern...
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Website
Other

King's College: The European Witch Hunts

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief summary of the European Witch Hunts that took place from the 1400s through to the 1800s. This summary also looks at the impact this had on women's history.
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Primary
Other

17th Century Colonial New England: "The Tryal of g.b" by Cotton Mather

For Students 9th - 10th
Modern English transcript of Cotton Mather's original account of the trial of "G.B." recorded during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.
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Handout
Other

Professor Pavlac's Witch Hunts: 10 Common Errors and Myths About the Witch Hunts

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed discussion of misunderstandings around what happened during the European witch hunts.
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Website
University of Virginia

Univ. Of Virginia: Witchcraft in Salem Village

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed introductory note about the Salem Witch Trials. Lists historical sites and bibliographies related to Salem witchcraft, including books for younger readers.
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Activity
Ibis Communications

Eye Witness to History: The Salem Witch Trials, 1692

For Students 9th - 10th
An article which details the Salem Witch Trials.
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Handout
Other

Rational Wiki: European Witch Hunts

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the history of the European witch hunts, and the misrepresentation of them as gender persecution.
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Article
Other

The Unique Concept of the Witch and the Witch Trials in Early Modern England

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay comparing the persecution of witches in early modern England to what happened during the European witch hunts.
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Article
Other

Luther College: Magic and the Common People of Early Modern Europe

For Students 9th - 10th
Examines the role that superstition and a belief in magic played in people's lives in early modern Europe.
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Handout
Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance

Religious Tolerance: The Burning Times: The Tiime Line: The Dark Ages to Now

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a timeline of witch hunts from the 9th century CE up to the present day.
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: Before Salem, the First American Witch Hunt

For Students 9th - 10th
In Hartford, Connecticut in 1662, 30 years before the infamous Salem witch trials, a witch hunt hysteria took hold, resulting in seven trials and four executions. Find out about the accusations and trials that rattled Hartford,...
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: Before America Had Witch Trials, Europe Had Werewolf Trials

For Students 9th - 10th
A few of the accused may have been actual pedophiles or serial killers, but many were beggars, hermits or recent emigres who were tortured into confessions. 200 years before the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, courts in Europe were...
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Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials (1692): William Stoughton

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical and historical note, with portrait, about William Stoughton (1631-1701), that briefly explains Stoughton's role as chief justice during the Salem witch trials. Itemizes the deviations from normal courtroom practice that...
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Handout
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witchcraft Trials Bibliography and Links

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides an extensive bibliography and links for original documents and analysis of the Salem Witch Trials.
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Salem Witchcraft Hysteria

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart is an inferencing lesson to introduce the Salem Witch Trials used for teaching The Crucible. Students are presumed to already have background on the Puritans.
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Unknown Type
Kenyon College

Kenyon College: Marginality and Community in Medieval Europe: Witchcraft

For Students 9th - 10th
This describes and defines witches and witchcraft in the medieval period from a project designed by students at Kenyon College. Part of a larger examination of the marginality of groups in medieval Europe.