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Capitalism And Imperialism The Book Reaction Paper

Her confession was then the pivotal point for the start of one of the most painful events in the history of the United States. What is interesting to me personally is that Breslaw provides a much more global view of the witch trials and its influences than is generally available in books and documents regarding the trial. In my own view, the witch trials were the result of the mindset of the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition; the subversion of certain sectors of society by Christian leaders by means of fear. However, I never realized that, for the witch trials, there was a much wider perspective. Indeed, Tituba's young life was informed by a religion that was as far removed from Christianity at the time as it was possible to be. According to the book, Tituba's confession was the result of the meeting of the two religious paradigms; Tituba's occult beliefs and the strict premise of Christianity.

Strong and justified as Tituba's rebellion was, however, I find it particularly tragic that many innocent men, women, and even children suffered as a result. On the other hand, one might also argue that Tituba and the men, women and children of her own culture suffered as a result of the slave trade, and that her confession was an appropriate response to what she had suffered throughout her life. In this way, the book has provided me with a much more balanced and universal view of the conditions and cultures surrounding the witch trials. In this, I think it is a very important contribution...

What happened as a result of Tituba's confession is also an important lesson about history and tolerance for the cultural roots of others. Had the Puritan church leaders been more tolerant of the cultures they encountered, the violence might never have occurred.
Historical interpretation is important for various reasons. The most important of these is the human capacity to learn from our mistakes. The Salem witch trials and other historical atrocities are an important lesson from history: no amount of faith is ever sufficient reason for murdering others.

As the author implies, without documentation, it is very difficult to verify historical fact. Indeed, there are many things the historian simply cannot be certain of. However, it is also our duty as human beings who are aware of the passage of time to make as much effort as possible to find and verify historical fact, particularly as far as human relationships are concerned, and most especially where these relationships were based upon violence and prejudice. This is the only way in which to ensure that atrocities do not repeat themselves.

In general, I enjoyed the book and feel that it provides an important contribution to our understanding of the Salem witch trials. Personally, I feel that my own understanding has been expanded and that I now have a more global view of the trials, their causes, and their underlying concerns.

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