Online Class: Salem Witch Trials

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
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10Lessons
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16Exams &
Assignments -
1,510Students
have taken this course -
4Hours
average time -
0.4CEUs
Course Description
This course begins with a historical overview of the environment in Salem in 1692. An examination of the way life was like in Colonial Salem will provide a backdrop to the tensions and circumstances that led to so much unrest. We will then take a look at the specific series of events that led to the accusations of witchcraft and the beginning of the trials.
This course will also profile the people who accused others of witchcraft, and it will examine those accused of the crime. Careful attention will be paid to the legal proceedings used in the trials, how they were influenced by prominent members of society, and the roles played by the ministers and judges. This comprehensive course will conclude with a look at how the trials ultimately came to an end and examine the long-lasting effects they had in American history.
Course Motivation
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.
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.
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.
- 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

Course Lessons
Lesson 1. Salem in the 1600s. Part 1
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
Lesson 2 Video A
Lesson 2 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 2 Exam
Lesson 3. Samuel Parris
Lesson 3 Video A
Lesson 3 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Assessment: Lesson 3 Exam
Lesson 4. The Suspicion of Witchcraft
Lesson 4 Video A
Lesson 4 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Assessment: Lesson 4 Exam
Lesson 5. The Accusers
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
Lesson 6 Video A
Lesson 6 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Assessment: Lesson 6 Exam
Lesson 7. Judges, Ministers, and the Law
Lesson 7 Video A
Lesson 7 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 7 Exam
Lesson 8. Bridget Bishop
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
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
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
Learning Outcomes
- 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

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
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- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Time to complete | 6 months |
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Time to complete | 12 Months |
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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
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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