PROMPT
Think of the causes of the Salem Witch trials in 1692. Historians describe this time as one of hysteria. Nearly 200 people were accused of witchcraft and by the end of the trial 19 people were sentenced to death by hanging and one man was stoned. What caused this mass hysteria?
There are several theories:
RELIGIOUS
Not all people were members of the puritan church
Boredom
Strong belief in the occult
POLITICAL
Disputes over town management
ECONOMIC
Financial rivalries between Salem Village and Salem Town
SOCIAL
Personal differences
Cold weather
Indian attacks
Jealousy
Judgement and non-conformists
Fear
Your paper is not about the Salem Witch Trials, but rather conflicts today that can be compared to the reasons that mirror what happened in Salem.
The modern day conflict that I picked is the abortion rights/reproductive rights debate in the US. If needed, clarify that I am PRO-CHOICE.
REASONS TO USE
Desire to keep their group prospering
Political beliefs
Tradition and its pressures
Lack of education/misinformation
Strong religious beliefs
POSSIBLE PARAGRAPH OUTLINE/BREAKDOWN
1a. Origins of Salem village & of the witch trials, specifically the desire of safety from religious persecution and the looming threat of attacks from the Native Americans
1b. Origins of US pro-life movement, Dr. Storer wanted to keep white protestants as the dominant class, use a source for this
2a. Theology was the way of government at the time especially in MA, and the people of Salem wanted their leaders to protect them from “unholy” things
2b. People on the “pro-life” side think that the government has an obligation to protect all people, and they consider fetuses as people
3a. Tradition was strongly conformed to in the colonies, and breaking from the norm was frowned upon
3b. With the rising popularity of lifestyles like “TradWife” many people feel obligated to have families and feel that others should do the same
4a. Education in the colonies, and especially in poorer places like Salem Village was rare, and accurate information was generally unavailable, especially for things concerning women
4b. Misinformation is widespread, especially online, and a rise in higher education level directly corresponds to a rise in “pro-choice” beliefs
5a. The Salemers believed VERY strongly in Satan and fully believed “spectral evidence”
5b. Religion is the base for not only the origin of the “pro-life” movement, but also continues to be used today
