THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS

Explores the history of and myths surrounding the Salem witch trials, and, more generally, the politics of scapegoating. Readings, including trial transcripts, focus on the origin, development, and legacy of the trials, and on Puritanism, witchcraft, legal practices, and the status of women in colonial-era New England. Visits to local historical sites enhance understanding of the trials. The course also examines more recent witch-hunts and instances of hysteria associated with McCarthyism, AIDS, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the September 11 terrorist attacks.