Online Class: Salem Witch Trials

The trials, and the ultimate executions, of many so-called witches in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 is one of the most widely known events in American history.

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  • 10
    Lessons
  • 16
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 1,585
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 4
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.4
    CEUs
 
 

Course Description

"Salem Unveiled: A Deep Dive into the Enigma of the Witch Trials"

The haunting echoes of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 reverberate through the annals of American history with a chilling resonance. A quaint town, marred by a frenzy of paranoia, saw the persecution and execution of many in the name of witchcraft. This dark chapter, while not a pivotal turning point like the Revolutionary War, has nonetheless captured the collective imagination, inspiring countless debates, theories, and narratives over the centuries.

Why has the Salem Witch Trials maintained such a stronghold on our cultural psyche? "Salem Unveiled" seeks to unravel this very enigma.

Course Highlights:

  1. Setting the Stage: Traverse the cobbled streets of Colonial Salem. Delve deep into the socio-political and cultural backdrop that simmered with tensions, laying fertile ground for chaos.

  2. A Timeline of Terror: Chart the escalating events, from innocent murmurs of superstitions to the deafening cries for justice against supposed witches.

  3. Behind the Accusations: Journey into the minds of accusers. Unearth their motivations, fears, and ambitions that catalyzed the hysteria.

  4. Faces of the Accused: Bring to light the stories, hopes, and dreams of those thrust into the limelight under grim circumstances. Delve into their lives, seeking clues that led to their unfortunate fates.

  5. Inside the Courtroom: Examine the intricacies of the legal proceedings. Dissect how societal influencers, high-ranking officials, and religious leaders swayed the hand of justice, often with dire outcomes.

  6. Legacy and Lessons: As the dust settled on the trials, Salem was forever changed. Explore the aftermath and the indelible marks left on the fabric of American society.

  7. The Echoes of History: Discover how the trials influenced art, literature, and contemporary culture, immortalizing Salem's story in myriad forms.

"Salem Unveiled" is more than a historical course—it's a journey through the psyche of a society on the edge. With a blend of rigorous research, poignant narratives, and immersive storytelling, this course promises not just knowledge but profound insights.

Join us as we traverse time, delving into a world where reason battled superstition, where voices were suppressed, and where echoes of cries for justice still linger. Uncover the lessons, warnings, and stories buried in Salem's soil, ensuring they're neither forgotten nor repeated.

Course Motivation

One of the reasons the trials have fascinated us for so long is the stark contrast between the accusations and the environment in which they were made. Salem in the 1600s was comprised mostly of hardworking, sensible people who were trying to establish a simple and productive way of life. The drama that unfolded in the late seventeenth century, the tales of demons and witches, seems, especially to our modern perspective, out of character for our colonial ancestors. We are a nation founded on ideals of reason and the pursuit of education and enlightenment. So how did the tragedy of these trials suddenly consume a peaceful New England village known as Salem? In this course, we will examine how historians have attempted to explain this mystery, and we will evaluate the facts that have been recorded.

As we will discover throughout this course, the quality of the "evidence" against the alleged witches in Salem in the 1690s is not only regarded with suspicion through the lens of our modern perspective. Indeed, there were many people in the 1600s who regarded the trials as a mockery of justice and an affront to humanity. Nevertheless, the environment of Salem in 1692 is dramatically different than our current time, so it would be best to begin with a look at what life was like in Salem at the time of these trials.
 
Throughout history, and certainly in Salem in the seventeenth century, many people have come to accept the notion of witchcraft as an evil reality. Even people at the highest pinnacles of their careers in law and medicine have believed in the forces of witchcraft, and this has been true since prehistoric times. One of the most commonly held beliefs about witchcraft in colonial times was that is held power over disease and death, the power to both prevent and cause such events.

In prehistoric times, the concept of a natural death, that is, death by old age or poor health, was a completely foreign concept. Our prehistoric ancestors believed that death was murder at the hands of a superhuman power. The same can be said for disease and illness. Such human conditions were the result, many people believed, of evil spirits and witchcraft.

Today, of course, a belief in witchcraft is very difficult to accept for most people. We have come to accept reason and natural law, and we have come to regard witchcraft as an old superstition. Our disposition is to not believe in witchcraft and it is this disposition that allows us to regard so called evidence of witchcraft with suspicion. Not everyone has this disposition today, and it can be said that this was certainly the case in 1692.

To better understand the environment of Salem in 1692, one must examine why some people were accused of witchcraft in the first place. It was a period when heresy was a particularly offensive crime. Heresy can be defined as a belief in something that is in contradiction to a widely held belief or convention. People accused of heresy were typically people who would question the generally accepted beliefs of society. In every age, there are such people and while we might regard such independent thinkers today with respect, this was certainly not the case in Salem in 1692.

Heresy was an accusation that was hurled at people with regularity in the seventeenth century. It provided a convenient excuse to expose people to ridicule and distrust. A label of heresy often provided a convenient method to harm one's enemies when such enemies could not be properly prosecuted for any real crimes. It would be an understatement to say that it has not always been easy being an independent thinker throughout our nation's early history, not every revolutionary was considered a patriot by all of their contemporaries.

Belief in witchcraft reached a high level of prominence in the 1500s. There was an enormous increase in the belief that the powers of the Devil were present in everyday life. Historians have written that many early religious people rejected the claim that God could be persuaded to act on people's behalf to bring about good but, at the same time, they believed that the Devil was responsible for all the evil in the world. In other words, they rejected the powers of magic to bring about good, but they were quick to accept the notion of black magic to cause harm.

Another reason for the prominence of witchcraft at this time was the enormous social and economic change that was occurring. The old values of the peasant communities did not match the changes that were occurring and this created tension among people. Poverty was becoming very widespread and it was no longer able to be handled on a voluntary basis. The moral duty of the rich to give money to the poor and the right of the poor to demand it were being called into question. As a result, there was a constant friction between people of means and a particular subset of society, poor, old women. The rich were beginning to feel guilty and the poor, elderly women had increasingly begun to badger the rich.

If any rich person, especially those who now refused to give to charity, has suffered a misfortune, many of them immediately suspected that the women had bewitched them, or cast an evil spell on them, for revenge. This tension was the foundation for the environment in which the Salem Witch Trials began. Poverty was a major problem and many people took out their frustration on the poor rather than attempting to deal with the problem in a constructive manner.

This was also the time when many people began to believe in conspiracy theories,  mostly among priests and various intellectuals. Many people believed in a widespread secret society of witches who made pacts with the Devil and travelled through the air on broomsticks. The modern day cartoon depiction of a witch on a broomstick has its origins in seventeenth century colonial America.

The rampant conspiracy theories about witches were exacerbated by the confessions of many witches during this time period. The confessions were often extracted from people using torture or through suggestive, predatory questioning. Confessions, both in colonial times and in the present time, can often be coaxed from a person who is under duress or who is being abused.

Thus, fear of witchcraft and evil spirits grew rapidly in the seventeenth century, and the fear grew well below the borders of Salem. People believed that the powers of the Devil were increasing and the power of the church was becoming weak. It became a society that believed anything unusual or particularly distressing was caused by a witch, who had the power to conjure evil spirits.

It was at this time that many people began to believe that so called witches needed to be brought to justice.
 
  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • Printable Lessons
  • Full HD Video  
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.7 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(1,390 votes)

Lesson 1. Salem in the 1600s. Part 1

In this course, we will examine how historians have attempted to explain this mystery, and we will evaluate the facts that have been recorded. Additional lesson topics: Early Salem; Video on Salem 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 1 Video A
  • Lesson 1 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
  • Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Assessment: Lesson 1 Exam

Lesson 2. Salem in the 1600s. Part 2

Many historians observed that the fascination, or preoccupation, with witchcraft in villages like Salem offered a very convenient excuse for local governments to refrain from attempting to resolve the underlying problems of poverty and other social concer Additional lesson topics: Early Sam Parris 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 2 Video A
  • Lesson 2 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
  • Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 2 Exam

Lesson 3. Samuel Parris

The villagers did not know it at the time, but Samuel Parris would prove to be one of the most prominent figures in the Salem Witch Trial history. 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 3 Video A
  • Lesson 3 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 3 Exam

Lesson 4. The Suspicion of Witchcraft

A typical New England mother and father in the late 1600s could expect at least one of their children to die due to serious illness; it was not uncommon for children to be seriously ill. Additional lesson topics: What is Witchcraft 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 4 Video A
  • Lesson 4 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Exam

Lesson 5. The Accusers

If Betty Parris was the daughter of a poor farmer or from a peasant family, the entire episode of her illness might have gone completely unnoticed by the residents of Salem Village. 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 5 Video A
  • Lesson 5 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
  • Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Exam

Lesson 6. The Magistrates and the Suspects

Parris did believe in the power of witches, but he knew that he was a relative newcomer to Salem. He wanted others to take up the charge of the witch hunt. Additional lesson topics: Salem Witch Trial Magistrates 9 Total Points
  • Lesson 6 Video A
  • Lesson 6 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Exam

Lesson 7. Judges, Ministers, and the Law

The new governor of Massachusetts, William Phips, created a special court to hear the cases of witchcraft. Additional lesson topics: Sir William Phips; Judges of the Salem Witch Trials 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 7 Video A
  • Lesson 7 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
  • Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 7 Exam

Lesson 8. Bridget Bishop

Reputation was a very important quality in Salem in 1692. Bridget Bishop's reputation in Salem in 1692 could be described as infamous. 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 8 Video A
  • Lesson 8 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
  • Complete Assignment: Comment on Bridget Bishop
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Exam

Lesson 9. Rebecca Nurse

Unlike Bridget Bishop, Rebecca Nurse could boast of all of these blessings, old age, health, a good life, piety, and respect. Additional lesson topics: Rebecca Nurse's Home 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 9 Video A
  • Lesson 9 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
  • Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 9 Exam

Lesson 10. The Conclusion of the Trials

People were suspecting that the wrong people were being punished for crimes they did not commit. Additional lesson topics: What can we learn from the Salem Witch Trials? 54 Total Points
  • Lesson 10 Video A
  • Lesson 10 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
  • Lesson discussions: What is your opinion of this course?; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Exam
  • Assessment: The Final Exam
268
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Describe Salem in the 1600s.
  • Identify Samuel Parris.
  • Summarize the suspicion of witchcraft during this period of time.
  • Identify the accusers and their arguments.
  • Summarize the magistrates and the suspects.
  • Describe the judges, ministers, and the law.
  • Identify Bridget Bishop and Rebecca Nurse and their roles in the Salem Witch Trials.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
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Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Salem Witch Trials
Course Number: 8900204
Lessons Rating: 4.7 / 5 Stars (1,390 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is online and available in all 50 states including: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, and Washington.
Last Updated: July 2023
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 0.4 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

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Student Testimonials

  • "Great job with this course. I learned far more than I anticipated, and I feel as though I am walking away from this with a deep appreciation and understanding of what happened during the Salem Witch Trials." -- Scott B.
  • "I really enjoyed the course! The additional articles and videos were informative and interesting. It piqued my interest so much that I undertook additional research on the subject. It is eye-opening when you realize that history is still repeating itself and how, through time, events with similarities are still happening. The content was engaging and arranged well. Thank you!" -- Mary G.
  • "I loved the course and the instructor presented the material and was able to grade and reply to assignments very quickly." -- Amy W.
  • "The course is great and a lot of great information and the instructor was a big help and helped me understand the class and gave a lot of encouragement." -- Michelle H.
  • "Great course! I learned so much that I had never known before!" -- Erin F.
  • "The Instructor is wonderful. Would like to take more courses of his!" -- Norma E.
  • "The instructor is a good communicator and always got back to me quickly after I submitted work." -- John M.
  • "I liked the feedback I received from the instructor - it made it feel more personal." -- Joanne M.
  • "Instructor was good on giving me feedback on what I could improve." -- Justine C.
  • "I found this course excellent and my tutor most helpful." -- Helen M.
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