University of Chicago Lab School- Ms. Jacobs' Page

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Salem Witch Trials Colonial Project Blog Post Assignment


Choose ONE of the online newspapers created by Mr. Nekrosius's project groups and spend fifteen minutes browsing through the various pages (you can find links to the two newspapers here). When have finished reading the newspaper, create a post that contains three things you learned from your reading and one question you have for the authors. If you were in Mr. Nekrosius's project groups, you should post on the other class's newspaper.

Remember:

You should include ONLY your first name, teacher's last name, and your class period (NO LAST NAMES) at the end of your blog post.

Also, remember to be positive and detailed in your responses! Your posts are due Thursday, December 2nd.

Image Source: http://www.libertyparkusafd.org/lp/bradford/Pictures/images/Salem%20Witch%20Trials%20--%20image001.jpg

posted by Charlotte Jacobs at 9:28 AM

34 Comments:

  • When reading an article from period 3/4's newspaper, I read the article "Watch Out for Witches"; in this article I learned how witches were not considered bad at fist, they were actually good because they worked with herbs and understood how the seasons worked. I also learned that when people drew witches they drew them as ugly old woman all in black with a red or orange background to represent the fires of hell. Another thing I learned was that there were lots of ways to figure out if someone was a witch; some of which had to do with floating on water, reading the bible, and some things dealing with sick girls.

    -Veronica, Jacobs 3rd/4th

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:32 AM  

  • I read Wetchcraft, Wizardry, and Black Magic. Oh My! by period 3/4. I learned that there are many different kinds of magic such as, black magic, white magic, and folk magic.
    I also learned that one way to check if someone was a witch was to check for a mole and if they poked it with a needle they would feel no pain.
    The third thing that I learned was that witches are thought to be "the devils earth agents".
    One comment I have for Sarah P. is that she did a great job on this article and I now know more about Witches and Magic then I did before!

    -Lexi, Jacobs 3rd/4th

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:31 PM  

  • I read the article from period 3/4's newspaper. I learned that a lot of people think the hallucinations and other issues people had were caused by Ergotism. I also learned that the only people that were accused of witch craft at first were poor people or beggars. I learned that the first man to be accused of being a witch was John Proctor.
    Good job!!

    -Lizzie, Jacobs per. 8-9

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:40 PM  

  • I read the article "The Interrogation of Rebecca Nurse" from the Daily Pilgrim, and found out that Rebecca's mother had been accused of witchcraft before Rebecca, thereby making Rebecca seem more suspicious, as witchcraft was supposebly passed down among generations. I learned that 39 people signed her petition saying that there was no evidence that she did what she was being accused of,and she was found innocent. Until that is, the girls seemed to get even more bewitched, and she was put on a second trial. It was this trial that found her guilty when she hesitated and the judges took it as she didn't know, or didn't want to give up the answer to another accused witch saying that she was one of them. She most likely didn't answer because she was hard of hearing. I would like to ask the author of this article whether or not Rebecca's mother survived being accused of witchcraft.

    ~Sarah, Jacobs 3/4

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:55 PM  

  • From the article, "The Grand Finale of the witch hunt," I learned that Reverend Increase Mather was the one who made spectral evidence illegal. From the same article, I learned that he was the president of Harvard College. From "The Troubled Timeline," I learned that Corn Fungus was likely what made the girls crazy enough to make all of these accusations. From "Guilty Before the Trial," I learned that Dorcas Good had accused her mother Sarah Good, of giving her a snake. This helped prove Sarah Good of being guilty.My question for the author the "Troubled Timeline" is this. If it was the fungus that made the girls so crazy, why was the rest of Salem not affected? Why are the girls the only ones to have gone crazy?
    -Julien B, Jacobs 8-9

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:55 PM  

  • I read the "The Daily Pilgrim" and learned that Giles Corey died because he was accused of being a witch because he spoken against the girls that accused his wife. I also learned that to make some one confess to being a witch you had to torture the suspects. One other thing I learned was what a witch's teat was. A witch's teat would usually be a mole or blemish. I enjoy "The Daily Pilgrim's" lay out of info and the organization.

    -Brad (Jacobs 8-9)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:40 AM  

  • I read the article Corn-Mungus Fungus from the newspaper New World News. This newspaper was written by period 3/4. I learned that one of the causes of the Salem Witch Trials could be ergotism. Ergotism is a non-contagious disease that comes from a fungus ergot that grows on rye and wheat. I also learned that this disease could make people's blood circulation stop in some places and cause fingers, hands, arms, and even legs to turn black and fall off. Another thing I learned was that ergotism was common with poor people because the rich generally bought their grain and didn't eat rye with prevented them from having hallucinations, feeling torture, and seeing the devil. This was why most of the richer people were accused instead of he poorer people because they were having the symptoms from the disease. One question I have for the author is that did people really lose their arms and legs during the Salem Witch Trials to ergotism?

    -Tiffany, Jacobs 8/9

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:42 AM  

  • I read the period 8/9 newspaper. I liked the article by Julian B, but I have a question about it, why do you think that he was against the witch trials, but he still accused his wife? I learned that Giles Corey was kind of the beginning of the rebellion against the Salem Witch Trials, I learned that Giles Corey was kind of a hypocrite, because he also accused his wife, and I also learned that Giles Corey was eighty years old when he was killed.

    -Henry, Jacobs period 8/9

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:43 AM  

  • I read an article from period 8/9 titled "Salem Pastor Forced Out". Learned that the Salem witch trials were started by three little girls. One was the daughter of the very important minister, Samuel Parris. Parris's daughter and friends caused over 180 people to be accused of witch craft. The first was Tituba. When Samuel Parris' daughter became sick, her cousins told him that Tituba had bewitched them. Parris beat her until she comfessed (even though she wasn't a witch). This happened with those 180 people.

    -Nicky, Jacobs 3rd/4th

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:51 AM  

  • When reading the New World News from the morning class, I learned a lot about just how bad the Salem Witch trials were. I also learned how the whole thing started and very important information that I never knew. One other thing I learned from the Newspaper was the many different ways of telling that someone was a witch. These people were generally naive to have believed in witches.

    Miles, Jacobs 3/4

    By Blogger Unknown, at 6:52 AM  

  • I read the head of house by Joey C. I learned that the Salem Witch Trials began because people were afraid of the devil paying them a visit. I also learned that witches were detirmened by a judge and not the town itself. Finally i learned that the salem witch trials ended when the gudge realized that what he was doing was wrong. I was wondering what made the judge realize that what he was doing was wrong.
    -Julius:Jacobs 8/9

    By Blogger Unknown, at 6:54 AM  

  • I read an article from "New World News" in the article i learned that there were many different ways to identify a witch. One way is if you see a mole or freckle on the persons body, that would mean that they are a witch. Also you are a witch if you are unable to say the Lords prayer without mistake. There is also evidence that one man, George Burroughs said the Lords prayer before he was hung for being a witch. Burroughs was still hung. Why is this. Wouldn't people now that he was being falsely accused if he could say the Lords prayer?
    -Paula, Jacobs 8th/9th

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:31 PM  

  • I read period 3/4's "Where the Broom Stick was Made". I learned that witchcraft started with King Philip IV trying to kill Templar Knights by accusing them of not believing in god "properly", and that in 14th century Germany the accusations where the most aggressive, killing over 100,000. I also learned that the England witch accusations most affected Salem. A question I have is "What caused the witchcraft accusations in 14th century France?"

    Logan, Jacobs, 3/4

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:15 AM  

  • I read the article The Witch Judgements from period 3-4. This article taught me how people who were accused of witches were judged. One of the most interesting ones was the witch cake, which is were you make a cake out of rye flour and the urine of the accused and feed it to a dog. This supposed to cause witch pain and if the person was found guilty they would be hung. The most gruesome judgement I learned about was pressing. What they would do is place board over an accused and put stones on the board and would stop putting more on until they told that were or weren't a witch.

    Paul Jacobs 3-4

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:38 AM  

  • I read the article "Devils Companion" by Paula H from period 8/9. THe article was about George Burroughs. Burroughs wife died so he borrowed money from Putnam, but could not return the money. Burroughs was then arrested and then accused of being a witch. Burroughs was innocent and falsely accused. He was searched but they found nothing unusual except for the fact that he was very strong. Some people did believe Burroughs and signed a petition so he would not be hanged, but Burroughs was still hanged on Gallows Hill.

    Elizabeth S, 3-4, Jacobs

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:45 AM  

  • I read the Circle Girls Interview from period 8/9's newspaper. I learned a lot of interesting evidence about why the girls may have been lying. I also learned some details I didn't know about why the girls didn't speak out immediately against the witches and the family backgrounds of the leaders of the circle girls. One question I have for the authors is if they think the girls were lying or not after having written their article.
    -Grace 1, Jacobs 3/4

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:48 AM  

  • I read the "First to Get Hanged" it was about Bidget Bishop, the first to be accused in Salem. She was an independent women who owned two taverns and fought with her husband constantly. She was married three times, he first two husbands died very young some people though that she killed her husbands. In Salem a strong independent women just had to be a witch.

    -Grace 2, Jacobs 3rd/4th

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:49 AM  

  • When I read the newspaper from period 3/4 i read Witchcraft, Wizardry, and Black Magic and learned that not all magic is purely evil. There is also white magic, or folk magic, used for counteracting the evil deeds of black magic, but Sarah P. what is white and folk magic? I also read in Corn-Mungus Fungus how to identify ergot before it gets to you and when you consume it, the ergotism symptoms are fits, spasms, hallucinations, confusions, delusions, loss of parts of the hands and feet or earlobes, and in more serious cases, loss of arms and legs.
    -Stefan, Jacobs 8/9

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:52 PM  

  • I read the article "The Witch Judgements" from period 3/4's newspaper, "New World News". I learned about the different methods used to figure out whether or not a person was a witch or not. I learned about the "Lord's Prayer Test", in which you make the possible witch recite the Lord's Prayer. If they stumble or skip words, they are a witch. If not, they are innocent. Another thing I learned was the fact that "Spectral Evidence" was dismissed as an accurate way of deciding whether or not the accused was guilty because people were being dishonest about their dreams. A third thing I learned about was "Pressing", a process during which two boards are placed on the so-called witch's body, and stones are placed on top of the boards until the person is either killed or confesses. One comment I have for Julie M. is that she did a really awesome job on this very clearly written article and I know a ton more than I did before! Really great job!

    -Ciara, Jacobs 8/9

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:42 PM  

  • i read "How to Identify Witches" from the 8/9 period class.In this article i learned lots of different ways people identified witches. i was surprised the the people in Salem made up the test for the witches, i would have thought it would be generals, mayors, and especially judges. the first test i learned about was the Devils mark. In this test the accused witch would be poked with sharp metal in places there were moles, freckles, birth marks etc. the next test i had all ready heard of, in this test you put the witch i water and if they flout there a witch. The next test i was confused about, in the touch test the accused witch must touch someone that is contorted and if there contortions are then gone they are a witch. fist i was confused because the "witch" would be healing someone and that would be a good thing, and second in the article it said that the people were often healed. Where the people in the touch test faking there contortions?

    -Ellie, Jacobs 8/9

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:25 PM  

  • While reading the article about The accusation of Giles Cory in the period 8-9 newspaper, I learned that the eighty year old man named Giles Cory accused his wife of being a witch and then refused to speak at his own trial. I also learned that right before Giles Cory was crushed by rocks he insisted that the people putting rocks on him would put more weight on him. When I read the trials of Sarah and Dorcas Good I learned that Sarah Good was a filthy and mean begged who was accused of being a witch.

    -Joe C, Jacobs period 8-9

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:47 PM  

  • I read the New World News and learned alot of interesting things. In the article "Watch out for Witches", I learned that the Salem Witch Trials began on March 1, 1692. I also learned from "The Pure Way" that Salem wanted to be an independent society, different than any other places. People banned the English Common Book of Prayer in Salem too! From "Corn-Mungus Fungus" I learned that ergotism symptoms are like the Witch Trials accusations because of burning feelings, hallucinations, twitching, and loss of arms and legs. My question is from "Sarah and Dorcas Good". I was wondering why did the people decide to kill Sarah before she even said anything? The New World News was very interesting.

    Leah, Jacobs 8-9

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:05 PM  

  • I read "The first to be hanged" from The Daily Pilgrim, by Angali. I learned that Brigid Bishop was the very first person to be hanged durring the Salem Witch Trials. I learned that she had three husbands and the first two were killed maybe even by Brigid herself. Another thing I learned was that Brigid was accused by eleven different people of being a witch before the Salem Witch Trials, then durring them she recieved her final accusation. This is significant because it shows how unimportant witches were before the Salem Witch trials V.S after.
    One Question I have for Angali is that if the puritans were so religieos, then why did they not care about witches until the circle girls came about?
    However I thought the article told her life very well overall.
    -Syrah, Jacobs 3/4

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:36 PM  

  • Wile reading the article The Sad but True Life Story of Ann Putnam Jr. in The Daily Pilgrim, I learned that Ann Putnam accused 62 people of witchcraft. I also learned that the girls continued to have fits and accuse people after the Salem witch trials ended. I also learned, from the article Salem Farmer Convicted of Witchcraft and Executed that Jon Procter actually accused the girls who were accusing him of witchcraft. One question I have for the authors of the website is what do they mean by previous news?

    -Max, Jacobs 3/4

    By Blogger Maxinator, at 4:45 PM  

  • I read the article by 3/4 on "Watch Out for Witches" and I learned that in the beginning witches weren't seen as bad or a threat and they were actually an important part of the community, and that after people studied Christianity, they thought witches worked with the devil, so they were suppose to have warts or anything else that has the devils mark. I also learned that people could tell if someone is a witch if they ask them to say something from the bible because the devil can't recite holy words.

    -Helen, Jacobs 3/4

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:11 PM  

  • I read "The Grand Finale of the Witch hunt" in period 3/4's newspaper. I learned that Reverend Increase Mather had at first supported the idea that witchcraft was real but his views had changed after going to jail where he met the accused. I also learned that Ann Putnam played a big role in the witch trials by accusing sixty two people of witchcraft after she herself was accused. After reading the first sentence of "Where the Broom Stick was Made" I learned that Salem was not the first place where witch trials occurred. But if Salem was not the first, was it the last? Where did which trials last occur?

    -Joe, Jacobs 3rd/4th

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:22 PM  

  • After reading the article "Head of the House" from period 3/4, I learned that John Hathorne was one of the two judges who lead the Salem witch trials. He put many to death and many in jail. I also learned that Hathorne was not simpathetic, and put most accused witches to death. Another thing I learned was that some accused witches would not get executed if they admitted to being a witch. A comment I have for Joey is that his article was very well written and discriptive.
    -Anjali, Jacobs 8/9

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:30 PM  

  • I read an article from the 8/9 newspaper, about sarah and dorcas good. I learned about how Dorcas wanted to go to jail with her mother, Sarah, even though Sarah was condemned to death. I also learned that Sarah was already speculated to mutter curses to passerby who refused to give her food or tobacco. I also learned that since Sarah had not been coming to church, she was a possible and probable target for accusation, since it would be very plausible to the court that a poor, weakly religious person would be a witch. One question I have is on what date was Dorcas sentenced to imprisonment and how much time she spent in prison with her mother.

    By Anonymous Fritz 3/4, at 6:35 PM  

  • I read period 3/4's newspaper "New World News" and I read the article Corn-Mungus Fungus! In the article I learned that Ergotism is a blight that grows on rye of wheat and can cause loss of parts of your hands earlobes and feet and in severe cases your arms or legs! I also learned that the cause of this is loss of blood circulation. Claire did a great job on this article in was interesting and kind of weird! I do have one question where does Ergotism come from?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:48 PM  

  • I decided to read the article Corn-Mungus Fungus! by Claire K. in the “New World News” newspaper. Before reading this article I didn’t know anything about this disease called Ergotism. Some interesting facts that I learned about Ergotism are that it is from the fungus ergot that is dark purple or black colored. Some symptoms of Ergotism are spasms, hallucinations and in severe cases there can be lose of body parts. I also learned that during the Witch Trials many of the accused demonstrated symptoms of Ergotism. I like how Claire summarized how to identify ergot and ways to prevent getting the disease.

    -Halima, Jacobs 3-4

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:52 PM  

  • I read Families Being Separated by period 3/4 and learned that during that time if children tried to show emotions such as anger or sadness that they would get in trouble for it. I also learned that children had to go to school year round, and that the children's parents thought that toys where sinful. I think the author did a very good job writing the article.

    By Anonymous Jamie, at 8:11 AM  

  • While reading Claire K's article about corn fungus I learned to avoid Ergot, how the Salem Witch Trials might have been caused by Ergot not actual witchcraft. I also learned about symptoms of Ergotism, which are fits, hallucinations and loss of body parts. One other useful fact that I learned one way you can do to avoid getting Ergot is make sure their aren't purple or black ergot bodies in stead of grain heads in cereal right before harvest. I would like to ask Claire how likely would it be that that someone would get Ergot?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:30 AM  

  • the 8/9 paper was amazing and the work done was really good. my favorite article was the article about Giles Corey where it was telling about how he gave his land to his sons when he was in jail. also it was interesting how his reasoning not to get a plea was so that the government would not take his land when he died or was found to be a witch. and i didn't know that he had so many wives.

    rosie,jacob3/4

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:29 AM  

  • I did not know that if you ate corn fungus it caused erogotism, the Salem Witch trial might of started with nine girls, and that Ergot posining creates a dangerous chemical reaction. My question is that are there any other possible ways the trials could of started
    KORRIN
    JACOBS 8/9

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:06 PM  

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