LITR 4231 Early American Literature Sample Research Posts 2014 (research post assignment) Research Post 2

Stephen Rodwell

April 16, 2014

The Salem Witch Trials and their Aftermath

    In my first research post I was left with the desire to go beyond the trials themselves and explore what happened to the participants. I also chose to investigate what legal changes took place occurred after the trials, and what effect did that change have on the American judicial system. Finally I chose to research how events in modern America would resemble the Salem Witch Trials.

    It is important to note that the belief of the supernatural and specifically the devil causing people (witches) to inflict harm on others began in Europe sometime around the 14^th century. This Hysteria had spread across the globe, and throughout America where there had been prior accusations and public hangings based on spectral evidence. “Spectral evidence was based on the hypothesis that an individual afflicted by necromancy would therefore be capable of seeing a specter resembling the person who has bewitched him or her” (Callis).  The Salem Witch Trials would be the result of the fear of the unknown, the mass hysteria that was sweeping the American Colonies, the post war effects of the war against France, a small pox epidemic, and a disliking for one's neighbors.

    As I was conducting my research I discovered an interesting article History.com. Within this article is the revelation that the “fungus ergot (found in rye, wheat and other cereals), which toxicologists say can cause symptoms such as delusions, vomiting and muscle spasms” (Staff). This would certainly explain most if not all of the afflictions reported, and further proves that not witchcraft ever occurred.

  The trials themselves were a sham, and a travesty of justice. The Chief Justice, William Stoughton allowed many departures from the standard court room procedures such as, allowing the accuser(s) to have sidebars with the judge, admitting spectral evidence, allowing the viewers to interrupt the trial with personal remarks, and even denying the accused a defense counsel. William Stoughton suffered very little for his participation in the trials, and in 1694 he would serve as the acting governor when, Governor Phips would leave for England to answer to allegations of corruption. John Hathorne, another prominent judge believed that the devil could turn people against the church. He would later sentence George Burrows to death, and would often act as a prosecutor than as a judge. His great grandson Nathaniel Hawthorne would add the “w” to his last name in an attempt to dissociate himself from his family’s role in the Salem Witch trials.  Samuel Sewall seems to be the only one of the three judges to show any repentance for his role in the proceedings. In 1696 Sewall would publically apologize and write a proclamation for a day of “fast and penance.” Every year thereafter on that day he would fast and pray for his forgiveness, and would do this until the day he died(Faculty).

    The Salem Witch Trials caused the legal system to take a good hard look at the miscarriage of justice that had taken place. Never again would a person be accused of witchcraft in New England, or the Colonies for that matter (Callis). Spectral evidence and the evidence of “sight and feel” would never be used again. Confessions obtained by torture would be deemed skeptical, as would those confessions given by a person who has something to gain. Defendants would be guaranteed legal counsel, and witnesses could be crossed examined. Finally Judges should be fair-minded and conduct the court proceedings professionally.

    The legacy of The Salem Witch trials lives on even in our modern world. During the 1950’s a senator by the name of Joe Mccarthy set on his witch-hunt to expose government employees and Hollywood actors as communists. Again in the late 1980’s the nation would be gripped by the McMartin Preschool Trial, in which numerous allegations of sexual abuse would arise. After 6 years of trial no guilty verdicts would be rendered and all charges would be dropped. Again it would be mass hysteria, confessions obtained from children, and hearsay that would be the driving force behind this witch hunt. The McMartin Preschool Trial would go down in history as the most expensive criminal trial eve (Linder).

   Today there is a monument in Salem Massachusetts, which is dedicated to the victims of the witch trials. The dedication of the memorial took place in, May of 1992 which was the 300th anniversary of the beginning of the trials. The monument contains the names of eight of the executed, and quotes from some of the accused as well. The Salem Village Witchcraft Victims' Memorial is a lasting “reminder that each generation must confront intolerance and "witch hunts" with integrity, clear vision and courage” (Ray).