Chapter
The Gallows in Colonial America
01:26 - 08:43 (07:17)
The belief in witches and the fear of the supernatural led to the execution of 20 innocent people during the Salem witch trials. The small early colonial towns lived in fear and witchcraft accusations were often used to settle property disputes.
Clips
The Salem Witch Trials were a genuinely frightening event in American history that went beyond Halloween spookiness, as people were walking to the gallows and experiencing a level of horror that was existential.
01:26 - 02:43 (01:17)
Summary
The Salem Witch Trials were a genuinely frightening event in American history that went beyond Halloween spookiness, as people were walking to the gallows and experiencing a level of horror that was existential. Although Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible captured some of the terror, it did not fully prepare readers for the reality.
ChapterThe Gallows in Colonial America
EpisodeSalem Witchcraft Trials: More Bonkers Than You Know
PodcastStuff You Should Know
A discussion of the lack of private journals and letters related to the Salem witch trials in contrast to the abundance of movie and TV adaptations, which have misinterpreted the events.
02:43 - 05:15 (02:31)
Summary
A discussion of the lack of private journals and letters related to the Salem witch trials in contrast to the abundance of movie and TV adaptations, which have misinterpreted the events. Also, a brief understanding of other witch trials in America.
ChapterThe Gallows in Colonial America
EpisodeSalem Witchcraft Trials: More Bonkers Than You Know
PodcastStuff You Should Know
Stacy Schiff explains that the witchcraft accusations in Salem took hold during a time of extreme stress for the colonial town, where land disputes were common and residents lived on the edge of existence.
05:15 - 08:43 (03:28)
Summary
Stacy Schiff explains that the witchcraft accusations in Salem took hold during a time of extreme stress for the colonial town, where land disputes were common and residents lived on the edge of existence.