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The Witch Craze in Britain, Europe and North America, c1580–c1750

Why the Salem witch hunt ended

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 3

Overview

Recall questions on Increase Mather's Cases of Conscience, Governor Phips's actions, what happened once spectral evidence was excluded, the final toll, and the later apologies.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

Who effectively ended the trials by barring spectral evidence?

Who and when

Why did Phips act when he did?

Key term

What was the final toll at Salem?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Who effectively ended the trials by barring spectral evidence?

    Model answer

    Governor William Phips.

  2. 2

    What was Increase Mather's Cases of Conscience?

    Model answer

    His 1692 argument that it were better ten suspected witches escape than one innocent person be condemned, which attacked reliance on spectral evidence.

  3. 3

    Why was Increase Mather's intervention decisive?

    Model answer

    He carried the authority of the colony's leading minister and had negotiated its new charter, so his rejection of spectral evidence could not be ignored.

  4. 4

    What was Thomas Brattle's letter of October 1692?

    Model answer

    A Boston merchant's widely circulated criticism of the Salem trials, attacking spectral evidence, the touch test and reliance on the afflicted girls' testimony.

  5. 5

    Why did Phips act when he did?

    Model answer

    Accusations had reached prominent people including his own wife, the ministers had turned against the evidence, and the colony was becoming ungovernable.

  6. 6

    What happened in the trials after spectral evidence was excluded?

    Model answer

    Of the next fifty-two cases only three were convicted, and those were reprieved, which demonstrated that the evidence had been driving the convictions.

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