E53 Learn English Through American History: The Salem Witch Trials Explained

🎃Halloween is nearly here and we are getting ready for it with this special episode of the Learn English Podcast. Halloween usually involves scary things such as witchcraft, ghosts, and magic. There's one cultural event in American history that has all of these elements that frequently gets mentioned at Halloween, and that is the Salem Witch Trials. But what were the trials and why did they occur?

🧙‍♀️Join us as we discuss this dark chapter of American history. From the trials themselves to the cultural impact, we'll uncover the truth behind this haunting period. In the late 1600's, people believed in witches, and in one small town, fear took control. In this episode, you’ll discover the details of the Salem Witch Trials, including what life was like in Puritan Massachusetts. The Puritan's strict religious beliefs and culture helped create the atmosphere that led panic that occurred in Salem.

🕯️We’ll also explore different theories about why these accusations of witchcraft began. We'll analyze the evidence, question the motivations behind the accusations, and discuss the lasting legacy of the Salem Witch Trials. And finally, we'll recommend resources you can use to learn more about the trials while also improving your English.

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📜 SOURCES

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/09/07/the-witches-of-salem

https://www.travelandleisure.com/salem-massachusetts-halloween-season-7871591

📝 Vocabulary List:

1) Accused - Blamed or charged with a crime or wrongdoing.

2) Colonized - Settled and established control over an area.

3) Puritan - a member of a Protestant group in the 16th and 17th centuries that sought to purify the Church of England

4) Bewitched - to influence or affect as if by witchcraft

5) Submissive - Willing to obey or follow others.

6) Pious - Deeply religious and following religious rules

7) Shunned - Deliberately ignored or avoided.

8) Contorting - Twisting or bending out of shape.

9) Mass Panic - A widespread and intense fear among many people.

10) Convulsions - Sudden, involuntary movements of the body.

11) Hallucinations - Experiences of seeing or hearing things that aren’t real.

12) Remorse - Regret or sorrow for a wrongdoing.

13) Convicted - Found guilty of a crime in a court of law.

14) Haunted - Believed to be inhabited by ghosts.

15) Psychic - A person who claims to have abilities to perceive beyond the physical senses.