History Of Salem Witch Trials - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1863 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/05/21 Category History Essay Level High school Topics: Salem Witch Trials Essay Did you like this example? Introduction The Salem Witch Trials were a group of trials and prosecutions in the United States. These trials resulted from the paranoia of townspeople in which two hundred people were accused of witchcraft and nineteen were hanged. The trials took place in colonial Massachusetts over a nearly seven-month period in the years of 1692 and 1693. The Massachusetts colony would eventually admit that the trials were a mistake. They went on to compensate the families that were involved. (Blumberg, J. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials) Background and History During the 14th century in Europe, the belief in supernatural powers, and the belief in the practice of the devil giving witches the power to harm others in exchange for their loyalty and devotion, was common. A witchcraft hysteria had began in Europe starting in the 1300s. It had finally started to fade in the 1600s. The majority of European witch hunts took place in Western Germany, France, and northern Italy. The last known execution for witchcraft in Europe took place in Switzerland in 1782. Thousands of people, most of whom were women, were executed. Likewise, this belief became widespread in colonial New England, even though the belief had began to diminish in Europe. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "History Of Salem Witch Trials" essay for you Create order New England was settled by religious refugees. They wanted to build a Bible-based society. As such, Salem Village was inhabited by deeply religious, and deeply superstitious, Puritans. In the mid-1600s Salem had divided into two communities, Salem Town and Salem Village. Salem Town was far more prosperous than Salem Village. During the time of the Salem Witch Trials, Salem Village was in the aftermath of a British War with France in the colonies. King Williamrs War in 1689 had created devastation in parts in the north and resulted in refugees fleeing into the counties of Essex and into Salem Village. The refugees placed more of a strain on the less affluent Salem Village. It also played a role in already existing rivalries. These rivalries were tied to the wealth of the port of Salem and the areas that depended on agriculture. Salem Village and Salem town often had arguments over things such as property lines, grazing rights, and church privileges. Furthermore, there were frequent Na tive American attacks. (Brooks. History of the Salem Witch Trials) Salem Village had decided to get their own minister rather than share one with Salem Town. The first two ministers didnt stay. A third stayed for a short period of time, but he left after the church in Salem refused to ordain him. The parish disagreed on Salem Villagers choice, Samuel Parris, but he became the minister of Salem Village after conflicts over pay and land were resolved. However, the agreement that was reached conflicted with a village resolution which stated it was unlawful for inhabitants of the village to convey land or houses of the Ministry to any person. Minister Parris not only didnt solve disputes, he would seek out certain behavior and then make church members that were in good standing suffer public penance even for small infractions. He played a major role to the tension and bickering of Salem Village. The mixture of tensions, fighting, and religion created a climate that was filled with paranoia in Salem Village. The residents quite possibly lived in a state of constant fear. The Salem Witch Trials began when a nine-year-old girl, named Elizabeth Parris and a eleven-year-old girl, named Abigail Williams, began to have fits that the townspeople found strange. These fits included screaming and violent contortions. An eyewitness account was given by Rev. Deodat Lawson, a former minister. The girls said that they were being pinched and poked with pins. William Griggs, a local doctor, wasnt able to find a medical reason for the fits, so he diagnosed the girls with bewitchment. Afterwards, other young girls began to have similar symptoms. (Blumberg. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials) The Trials The father of Elizabeth Parris, one of the first girls to have symptoms, was Samuel Parris, the minister of Salem Village. There were numerous feuds in Salem at the time. The ministers were frequently caught in the middle of these feuds. Rev. George Burroughs, one of the three former ministers, would go on to be accused of witchcraft. In February of 1692, arrest warrants were issued for Tituba, the Parris Caribbean slave. Arrest warrants were also issued for two other women. The two other women were Sarah Good, who was a homeless beggar, and Sarah Osborn, a poor and elderly woman. All three of the women were outcasts and easy targets. The women had been accused of bewitching Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Jr, and Elizabeth Hubbard. The three women were brought before magistrates and questioned over the course of several days. They were then sent to jail. (Editors, H. Salem Witch Trials) The girls that accused them appeared in the courtroom. They were screaming and contorting in front of everyone. Good and Osborn said they were innocent, but Tituba confessed. However, this confession was given after having denied the claims at first. As a slave, it would have been more difficult to deny allegations. In fact, outcasts and those of little status and power were very easy targets for accusations. The fact that it was easy to accuse them may have made them scapegoats for those that feared being accused themselves. We can see an example of this in the confession of Tituba. During her confession, Tituba went on to say there were other witches acting with her. Tituba quite probably did this to try to save herself. However, her confession created a panic. (Schiff, S. Unraveling the Many Mysteries of Tituba, the star of the Salem Witch Trials.) Several others would end up being accused. This included two women which were regarded as upstanding members of the community and chur ch, Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse. Martha Corey had doubts, which she expressed, about the credibility of the girls accusations. This made her a target for being accused herself. Because these two women were considered upstanding people in the community, it increased the sense of panic because it seemed as though anyone could be a witch. The magistrates went so far as to question Sarah Goodrs 4-year-old daughter, Dorothy. The answers she gave were timid and they were used as a confession which implicated her mother in crimes involving witchcraft. (Bartholomew, Robert E. Mass Hysteria at Old Salem Village.) Like the beginning of the trials, several women confessed and then named others. The court system became overwhelmed. A special court was established to hear and decide on witchcraft cases in Suffolk, Essex, and Middlesex counties. When the court convened during the end of May there were a total of sisxty-two people in custody. The presiding judges during the trials were Samuel Sewall and William Stoughton. The first conviction was handed down on June 2. Bridget Bishop was found guilty and hanged. The spot on which she was hanged would become known as Gallows Hill. Five more were hanged in July, five in August, and eight in September. Also, seven of the accused died in jail. Giles Corey, the husband of Martha, was pressed to death by stones. This was done when he refused to enter a plea at his arraignment. (Blumberg. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials.) The fact that he was pressed to death is not surprising. The accused that entered a plea of not guilty were tried quickly and convicted. Many went on to be executed. (Gill. Why were the Salem Witch Trials so significant?) During the trials, to help identify witches, the authorities used a touching test. During the touching test it was believed that the victims of witchcraft would become calm when they touched the culprit. Aftermath Minister Cotton Mather and his father, the president of Harvard College, had given warnings against using testimony about dreams and visions. They believed evidence for witchcraft should be equal to the evidence for other crimes. When public support for the trials began to decrease, Governor Phips dissolved the special court, which was called the Court of Oyer and Terminer, and stated that its successor disregard spectral evidence. By May of 1693 Phips pardoned and then released all that were in prison on witchcraft charges. (Brooks. History of the Salem Witch Trials) The Massachusetts General Court declared a day of fasting for the trials in January 1697. The court would later decide the trials were unlawful. The leading justice of the trials, Samuel Sewall, publicly apologized for his role in the trials. In 1711 legislation was finally passed to restore the good names of the people that were condemned and to provide financial restitution to their heirs. Conclusion The Salem Witch Trials resulted in the accusations and deaths of many resident of Salem Village. Religious superstition, mass hysteria, paranoia, and feuds played a large role in the Salem Witch Trials. Unlike other criminal trials, these did not rely on solid evidence. Simple accusations were enough to convict some people of witchcraft during the trials. Such little importance was placed on actual proof that even the words of small children could be used as evidence. The Salem Witch Trials were a dark part of Massachusetts history and the history of the United States. There have been several attempts to explain the odd behavior that went on in Salem Village during the time of the Salem Witch trials. One Study by Science magazine in 1976, done by psychologist Linnda Caporael, suggested that the abnormal habits of those accused could be explained by the fungus ergot. Ergot is a powerful hallucinogenic that is found in rye, wheat and other cereals. Eating contaminated foods can cause muscle spasms, vomiting, and delusions. The fungus thrives in warm, damp climates which is very much like the climate of Salem Village. Rye was a staple grain there. Farmers had known of this toxic mold for a long time but they assumed it was harmless. Today it is known that eating food containing flour made from grain containing ergot can cause death. It is also worth noting that ergot poisoning can burn the skin of whoever ingests it. (Baker, Jennifer P. A Grain to Blame?) August of 1992 marked the 300th anniversary of the trials. At this time the Witch Trials Memorial was dedicated. In addition to this, the Peabody Essex Musuem in Salem holds the original court documents. (Blumberg. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Works Cited Bartholomew, Robert E. Mass Hysteria at Old Salem Village. Skeptic. Vol 19, Issue 2 (2014): 12-15. Baker, Jennifer P. A Grain to Blame? Calliope. Jul/Aug2011, Vol. 21 Issue 9, p36-38. 3p. Print. Brooks, Beatrice. History of the Salem Witch Trials. History of Massachusetts Blog, 18 August. 2011, https://historyofmassachusetts.org/the-salem-witch-trials/ Editors, H. Salem Witch Trials. HISTORY. 12 October. 2018, https://www.google.com/amp/s/www/history.com/.amp/topics/colonial-americ/salem-witch-trials Schiff, Stacy. Unraveling the Many Mysteries of Tituba, the Star Witness of the Salem Witch Trials. Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 1 November. 2015, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/unraveling-mysteries-tituba-salem-witch-trials-180956960/. Blumberg, Jess. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 23 October. 2007, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489/. Goss, K. David. The Salem Witch Trials: A Reference Guide. Greenwood Press, 2008.

United States Department Of Justice And The Securities And...

The United States Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission rarely enforced the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, enacted in 1977, until 2010— over a decade since its modern reform in 1998. This surge in penalization of unethical acts such as bribery and other methods used to ensure foreign business ventures has been called a â€Å"new era of FCPA enforcement† by the DOJ, resulting in $1.8 billion in payments accrued from domestic firms and their foreign partners, compared to $300,000 in 2000 (Kohler). Because of ambiguity within the legislation, especially the undefined terms â€Å"foreign official† and â€Å"obtain or retain business,† the U.S. government is able to manipulate the FCPA for monetary gain, as well as shape foreign economies based upon their own values. The FCPA was composed with good intentions: to end corrupt trade and to create a more even playing field for American businesses. With that goal in mind, the Act is seemingly viewed as a normative standard to promote fairness, asserting that transparency and accountability are essential to building an honest and open global society. However the unclear articulation of the texts have developed inconsistencies in the way the FPCA is enforced, allowing organizations such as the SEC to utilize its broadness to target businesses, namely through the agencies’ interpretation of who a foreign official is and what it means to obtain or retain business. Firstly, according to the SEC, a foreign official is anyoneShow MoreRelatedForeign Corrupt Practices Act :836 Words   |  4 Pagescitizen of United State and certain foreign issuers of security and foreign companies. The Minor changes were made in the year 1988 and in 1998.Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has two main Provision (a)Accounting Transparency under Securities Exchange Commission, 1934. (b)Bribery of Foreign Officials. 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Shanker’s Article on The Real Victims Free Essays

Albert Shanker for 25 years was the columnist for â€Å"Where We Stand† in the New York Times and also president of the American Federation of Teachers. His article on the Real Victims addressed the need for alternative programs to resolve violence and disorder in schools. He agrees with Education reformers about setting high standards for students to achieve. We will write a custom essay sample on Shanker’s Article on The Real Victims or any similar topic only for you Order Now But its worthless Shanker argues if students are continually in fear of a stray bullet hitting them or classes ruled by disruptive students. Shanker opens with an example of school violence, how it terrified one student witnessing the stabbing of another student. Fearful of herself being stabbed too, the girl dropped out of school but managed to earn a GED and further her education into college. Not many could follow the footsteps of this successful girl Shanker warns. Many students he states are scared and disarrayed and lost to school and learning. He gives an example of disruption and how if not equally more damaging it is when compared to school violence. If there is one student that is disruptive in a class then the teacher†s time will be spent on trying to contain this student rather than attend the many who want to learn Shanker states. As a consequence Shanker concludes this will wreck the concentration of the many learning students in that class. There is a high level of tolerance for this kind of behavior he states, and school officials seem to be at a loss. Shanker claims that students carrying guns or drugs or who have been violent to other students have simply been transferred to another school, and those students who are chronically disruptive seem to deserve more tolerance. He states that little is done to kids who keep others from learning. As a result of this failure to remedy the problem Shanker observes that parents that are very much aware of the situation go for vouchers and tuition tax credits. Hoping that by placing their children in schools that do not tolerate violence or disorderly conduct will shield them from it. Many education experts he points out argue that our first responsibility is to the minority of violent and disruptive kids. These kids they claim have a ‘right† to an education and that they deserve to stay in class too. He refutes this point by addressing the rights of the rest of the students making the majority of the class. Those he claims that are ready to work and willing to learn. Why he questions would we want to threaten their security and education. Shanker defends himself that he does not want to put the violent and disruptive children on the streets rather; he wants to see a change in the system. A system he urges that does not surrender the vast majority of willing and learning children for the few and violent children. A consequence of not finding an effective remedy to the system of things is that children with impressionable minds will learn the wrong lessons Shanker claims. To support his reasoning he gives an example of a child committing violence against another. The by-standers watching this happen are positive something bad will happen to this violent student. To the surprise of the children, the teacher gets in trouble for reporting the incidence. Children†s sense of right and wrong fades, a bad lesson taught and a violent child is automatically made a leader for the rest to observe and follow Shanker concedes. Shanker argues that the system is irrational and this is why irate parents demand vouchers and tax credits, anything that could save their children from the few violent children who take hostage the educational system. Rather than the majority of wiling and learning students move out, why not move the few aggressive and troublesome students, Shanker concludes. How to cite Shanker’s Article on The Real Victims, Papers

Black Holes Essay Stephen Hawking Example For Students

Black Holes Essay Stephen Hawking BLACK HOLESInto the Depths of A Black HoleEveryday we look out upon the night sky, wondering and dreaming of what lies beyond our planet. The universe that we live in is so diverse and unique, and it interests us to learn about all the variance that lies beyond our grasp. Within this marvel of wonders our universe holds a mystery that is very difficult to understand because of the complications that arise when trying to examine and explore the principles of space. That mystery happens to be that of the ever clandestine, black hole.This essay will hopefully give you the knowledge and understanding of the concepts, properties, and processes involved with the space phenomenon of the black hole. It will describe how a black hole isgenerally formed, how it functions, and the effects it has on the universe. In order to understand what exactly a black hole is, we must first take a look at the basis for the cause of a black hole. All black holes are formed from the gravitational collapse of a star, usually having agreat, massive, core. A star is created when huge, gigantic, gas clouds bind together due to attractive forces and form a hot core, combined from all the energy of the two gas clouds. This energy produced is so greatwhen it first collides, that a nuclear reaction occurs and the gases within the star start to burn continuously. The Hydrogen gas is usually the first type of gas consumed in a star and then other gas elements such as Carbon, Oxygen, and Helium are consumed.This chain reaction fuels the star for millions or billions of years depending upon the amount of gases there are. The star manages to avoid collapsing at this point because of the equilibrium achieved by itself. The gravitational pull from the core ofthe star is equal to the gravitational pull of the gases forming a type of orbit, however when this equality is broken the star can go into severaldifferent stages.Usually if the star is small in mass, most of the gases will beconsumed while some of it escapes. This occurs because there is not atremendous gravitational pull upon those gases and therefore the starweakens and becomes smaller. It is then referred to as a White Dwarf. If the star was to have a larger mass however, then it may possiblySupernova, meaning that the nuclear fusion within the star simply goes out of control causing the star to explode. After exploding a fraction of the star is usually left (if it has not turned into pure gas) and that fraction of the star is known as a neutron star.A black hole is one of the last option that a star may take. If the core of the star is so massive (approximately 6-8 solar masses; one solar mass being equal to the suns mass) then it is most likely that when the stars gases are almost consumed those gases will collapse inward, forced into the core by the gravitational force laid upon them.After a black hole is created, the gravitational force continues to pull in space debris and other type of matters to help add to the m ass of the core, making the hole stronger and more powerful.Most black holes tend to be in a consistent spinning motion.This motion absorbs various matter and spins it within the ring (known asthe Event Horizon) that is formed around the black hole. The matter keeps within the Event Horizon until it has spun into the centre where it isconcentrated within the core adding to the mass. Such spinning black holes are known as Kerr Black Holes. Most black holes orbit around stars due to the fact that they oncewere a star, and this may cause some problems for the neighbouring stars. If a black hole gets powerful enough it may actually pull a star into it and disrupt the orbit of many other stars. The black hole could then grow even stronger (from the stars mass) as to possibly absorb another. When a black hole absorbs a star, the star is first pulled into the Ergosphere, which sweeps all the matter into the Event Horizon, named forits flat horizontal appearance and because this happens to be the placewhere mostly all the action within the black hole occurs. When the star is passed on into the Event Horizon the light that the star endures is bentwithin the current and therefore cannot be seen in space. At this exactpoint in time, high amounts of radiation are given off, that with theproper equipment can be detected and seen as an image of a black hole.Through this technique astronomers now believe that they have found a black hole known as Cygnus X1. This supposed black hole has a huge star orbiting around it, therefore we assume there must be a black hole that it is inorbit with. The first scientists to really take an in depth look at black holes and the collapsing of stars, were a professor, Robert Oppenheimer and hisstudent Hartland Snyder, in the early nineteen hundreds. They concluded on the basis of Einsteins theory of relativity that if the speed of light was the utmost speed over any massive object, then nothing could escape a black hole once in its clutches. **(1)The name black hole was named such, because of the fact that lightcould not escape from the gravitational pull from the core, thus making the black hole impossible for humans to see without using technologicaladvancements for measuring such things like radiation. The second part of the word was named hole due to the fact that the actual hole, is whereeverything is absorbed and where the centre core presides. This core isthe main part of the black hole where the mass is concentrated and appears purely black on all readings even through the use of radiationdetection devices. Just recently a major discovery was found with the help of a device known as The Hubble Telescope. This telescope has just recently found what many astronomers believe to be a black hole, after being focused on an star orbiting empty space. Several picture were sent back to Earth from the telescope showing many computer enhanced pictures ofvarious radiation fluctuations and other diverse types of readings tha t could be read from the area in which the black hole is suspected to be in.Several diagrams were made showing how astronomers believe that if somehow you were to survive through the centre of the black hole that there would be enough gravitational force to possible warp you to anotherend in the universe or possibly to another universe. The creative ideas that can be hypothesized from this discovery are endless. Although our universe is filled with much unexplained, glorious,phenomenons, it is our duty to continue exploring them and to continue learning, but in the process we must not take any of it for granted.As you have read, black holes are a major topic within our universe and they contain so much curiosity that they could possibly holdunlimited uses. Black holes are a sensation that astronomers are still very puzzled with. It seems that as we get closer to solving their existence and functions, we just end up with more and more questions.Although these questions just lead us i nto more and more unanswered problems we seek and find refuge into them, dreaming that maybe one day, one far off distant day, we will understand all the conceptions and we will be able to use the universe to our advantage and go where only our dreams could take us. Works CitedDepths of a Black Hole**(1): Parker, Barry. Colliding Galaxies. 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