The Bloody History Series is a course of history classes where each week students will learn about a popular cultural phenomenon during a certain period of time.  In this class we'll examine witch lore and witch hunters in history, while looking at the reasons behind accusations of witchcraft. Were these accusations committed by people for political reasons, or where there scientific explanations for victims experiencing what they thought were hexes and spells?  

Every day students will have a new handout to fill out during class. At the beginning of class students will compete on two teams using their notes. They will compete in a quiz to see who has learned their bloody history!

Day 1 What does it take to be a witch? We'll examine historical accounts of witchery and use the academic process that experts use to look at historical events.  What do they have in common? We'll examine how herbal knowledge, healing knowledge, and women's power became the key stones of accusations of witchcraft.  
Day 2 Politics: Many experts point out that those who accused their neighbors of witchcraft had much to gain from their accusations and little to lose. How did men get dragged into these accusations as well? How did the myth of werewolves evolve from these witch hunts? 
Day 3 Poisonings: Let's examine what role poisons had in the world at this time. We'll look at how women were relied upon for their healing knowledge and the paranoia people had about that knowledge.  Finally we'll look at what kind of accidental poisonings could happen without modern storage methods and preservatives.
Day 4 Episodes of mass hysteria: We'll learn about the psychology of mass hysteria. When it's taken place, how it is manifested, and how eye witnesses and victims can be manipulated to shape the truth.  Is it possible that mass hysteria played a role in accusations of witch craft? 
Day 5: Salem Witch Trials -- We'll examine the evidence and expert analysis to ultimately vote on the key factors that led to this iconic historic event in American history.