The Salem Witch Trials have become an American Legend and have occupied pop culture for decades. In this class, we will take an in-depth look at the beginnings of this dark moment in history, what occurred, and what the impact was on the community. We will take a walk through the small New England community, examine other witch hunts throughout history, and explore the many different theories behind the cause of the event. We will also examine other events in American History that have been compared to the witch trials.  Each class will consist of a 25-35 minute lecture, and conclude with a guided discussion. Each week there will be a list of homework options for each student to choose from. These will be mostly short research topics where each student is encouraged to write a short paper (1-2 paragraphs). There may some suggested reading material or films as options also. (Please see Parental Guidance below.)

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Week 1 Introduction; Life in Puritan New England
Week 2 A closer examination of Puritan beliefs and ways of life
Week 3 What is a witch? 
Week 4 Who were accused?
Week 5 Brief overview of the witch trials of Europe and England
Week 6 Comparisons of religions of the time
Week 7 Possible caused for the hysteria
Week 8 Why historians believe it happened; what we know as fact vs. legends
Week 9 Book and film reviews
Week 10 Comparisons to Modern times (Communism 1950's)
Week 11 Aftermath of trials; the affect on the community and American culture