Sixth Grade
Worksheets
The "Witches" of Salem, Massachusetts: Part 1
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Salem, Massachusetts? For many people, it is the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Twenty-four people were put to death as a result of these trials. It was a dark time in the history of Massachusetts.
During the seventeenth century, the average Englishman believed in the existence of an actual devil. They believed he interfered with life on earth to bring misery upon the godly. It was also believed that witches assisted the devil in these tasks. Witches were generally thought to be women, although males could be tricked into participation.
The political conditions in Salem in the late 1600s were ripe for the spreading of rumors as well. The Massachusetts Charter of 1629 was cancelled due to instability in England. Tensions in the New England states between colonists and Native Americans caused several local wars. New governors had been appointed and a new charter was about to be put into place for the Massachusetts Colony.
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