| Welcome to Hogwarts New Zealand! We hope you enjoy your visit. Hogwarts New Zealand is an interactive Harry Potter Role playing experience, set after the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in an assumed reality where a new branch of Hogwarts has opened in New Zealand! What new magic exists now? What new events are occurring across the Wizarding World? What new forces oppose those of good? Join today as a House Elf, Professor, Shopkeeper, Ministry Worker, Student or anything else and find out! Join the magic! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| First Years: Lesson 3; *Archived* Hufflepuff & Slytherin | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Dec 16 2014, 06:33 PM (60 Views) | |
| Jonathan Spenser | Dec 16 2014, 06:33 PM Post #1 |
![]()
HoM Professor | Ravenclaw HoH
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
"Good Afternoon class!" Professor Jonathan shouted to the room of students as he entered; their voices died down. "I hope everyone is doing well today!" He walked around to the back of her desk and picked up a few pieces of loose parchment. "Right, now, I'd like all of you to take notes on today's lecture." He paused for the students to pull out the parchment and quills, before he continued. "Today we are going to talk about the Salem Witch Trials. The trials took place in 1692, in Salem Massachusetts. There is a grave site which serves as a memorial to this terrible disaster. I have a picture here, hold on a moment..." Jonathan walked to the board at the front of the room and pulled on a little wire which displayed a picture. "Now on to the facts. Salem Village had a very colorful history before the famous witch trials. It was not exactly known as a bastion of tranquillity in New England. The main reason was its 600 plus residents were divided into two main parts: those who wanted to separate from Salem Town, and those who did not. The residents who wanted to separate from Salem Town were farming families located in the western part of Salem Village. Those who wanted to remain a part of Salem Town were typically located on the eastern side of Salem Village--closest to Salem Town. The residents who wished to remain a part of Salem Town were economically tied to its thriving, rich harbours. "Many of the Salem Village farming families believed that Salem Town’s thriving economy made it too individualistic. This individualism was in opposition to the communal nature that Puritanism mandated. Thus, they were out of touch with the rest of Salem Village. One particularly large farming family who felt that Salem Town was out of touch with the rest of Salem Village was the Putnams. "The Putnams were the leaders of the separatist group primarily because they owned the most farmland in Salem Village. They hoped to solidify a separation from Salem Town by establishing a congregation unique from it. So in 1689, a congregation was formed under the Rev. Samuel Parris and began worshipping in the Salem Village Meetinghouse. However, the congregation only represented a select group since over half of its members were Putnams. If this action did not further strain already weakened relations between the two factions, the events concerning Parris’ contract did. "Contracts for ministers during this period often provided them with a modest salary, use of a house, and free firewood. Parris received this and much more. He not only got a modest salary and free firewood, but the title and deed to the parsonage and its surrounding land. Needless to say, this was a very uncommon perk to be included in a minister’s contract during this time. This perk especially angered the residents who wanted to remain a part of Salem Town. The Salem Town supporters showed their opposition by refusing to worship at the Meetinghouse and withholding their local taxes. This latter action was of important consequence because the local taxes helped pay the minister’s salary and provided his firewood. "In October of 1691 a new Salem Village Committee was elected that was comprised mostly of Parris’ opponents. This new committee refused to assess local taxes that would pay Parris’ salary, and also challenged the legality of his ownership of the ministry-house and property. These actions by the new committee caused Parris and his family to rely solely on voluntary contributions for sustenance. The Putnams were now worried of losing Parris and the sought independence from Salem Town the congregation would help bring, and Parris was concerned about his job and providing for his family. "The Rev. Samuel Parris had a relatively small family. He was married and had a nine year old daughter, Betty, and a twelve year old niece, Abigail Williams, who was an orphan. Abigail was expected to earn her keep by doing most of the household chores, and also care for her invalid aunt. Betty’s poor health prevented her from helping with the household chores, so much of the work feel on Abigail’s young shoulders. "After chores were done, there was little entertainment for Betty and Abigail. Salem Town was eight miles away, and Boston was a twenty mile journey over unforgiving roads. Thus, Samuel Parris only visited these places when business required it. He also opposed the girls playing hide-and-seek, tag and other childhood games because he believed playing was a sign of idleness, and idleness allowed the Devil to work his mischief. "Puritans believed in witches and their ability to harm others. They defined witchcraft as entering into a compact with the devil in exchange for certain powers to do evil. Thus, witchcraft was considered a sin because it denied God’s superiority and a crime because the witch could call up the Devil in his/her shape to perform cruel acts against others. Therefore, in any case when witchcraft was suspected, it was important that it was investigated thoroughly and the tormentors identified and judged. Unknown to Samuel Parris, Mary Sibley ordered Tituba and her husband, John Indian, to bake a "witch cake" in order to help the girls name their tormentors. A witch cake is composed of rye meal mixed with urine from the afflicted. It is then feed to a dog. The person(s) are considered bewitched if the dog displays similar symptoms as the afflicted. The other girls soon spoke and named Sarah Osborne and Sarah Good. All three women were prime candidates for the accusations of witchcraft. Sarah Osborne was an elderly lady who had not gone to church in over a year, and poor church attendance was a Puritan sin. Sarah Good was a homeless woman who begged door to door. If people failed to give her alms, she would utter unknown words and leave. Residents would often attribute her visits to death of livestock. They believed the mumbled words she spoke under her breath were curses against them for not showing her charity. Since Tituba was Parris’ slave and well known to Betty and Abigail, it is no surprise then that her name was the first to be called out by Betty. The negative reputations and low social standing shared by these three women clearly made them believable suspects for witchcraft." Jonathan paused and looked at the clock. "I see we don't have much time left. I'm terribly sorry for the long lecture, but I hope you all took notes, because some of these facts may come up in the final exam. For your homework I'd like you to write an essay on anyone associated with the Salem Witch Trials. "A History of Magic" is an excellent source. You can find this book in the Library. Thank you very much for your cooperation today! I'll see you next class!” Homework Assignment: RP: 10 Essay: EC I'd like you to choose anyone from the Salem Witch Trials and write an essay. This essay should be at least 150 words long. I will not put a limit on the length, but don't get carried away. Once you have posted your essays, it may be wise to read some of the other essays posted on the person you did not do your essay on. I will be using various people from the Salem Witch Trials in the exam, so it would be helpful to check out ones that you didn’t do. I would like all work to have resources; I do not allow plagiarism and if I find someone who does, they will get an automatic T=0. Good luck, these will be due next week. |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · History of Magic Lessons Archive · Next Topic » |








![]](http://z5.ifrm.com/9058/177/0/p1025939/RanksEnd.png)


8:43 PM Jul 10