Mr. Laubach - APUSH - The Salem Witch Trials (see the Guiding Questions)

Guiding Questions:

1. What were the key events that sparked the Salem Witch Trials in 1692?

2. How did the religious beliefs of the Puritans contribute to the spread of witchcraft accusations?

3. What role did social and economic tensions between Salem Village and Salem Town play in the witch trials?

4. Why were certain individuals, like Sarah Good and Tituba, more likely to be accused of witchcraft?

5. What was “spectral evidence,” and how was it used during the Salem Witch Trials?

6. What factors contributed to the mass hysteria that led to the execution of 20 people during the trials?

7. How did fear and scapegoating influence the events of the Salem Witch Trials?

8. Why did Giles Corey’s defiance, and his famous last words—“more weight”—become symbolic in the context of the trials?

9. What lessons did the Salem Witch Trials teach about justice, due process, and the dangers of superstition in the legal system?

10. How have the Salem Witch Trials continued to influence American culture, as seen in literature and historical parallels like McCarthyism?