Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather: A Reply

"Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather: A Reply" by Charles Wentworth Upham is a late 1800s book that explores the Salem Witch Trials, particularly the involvement of Cotton and Increase Mather in the 1692 witch hunt. Upham wrote this book as a response to criticism of his earlier work, and he uses it to defend his views and examine the historical context of the trials and the Mathers' actions. Right from the beginning, Upham explains why he's writing the book, pointing to a review that disagreed with his original story about the Salem Witch Trials. He argues there are wrong ideas floating around about Cotton Mather and his part in the witch trials. The book explores the beliefs of the time, how the Mathers fueled people's fears, and the social situation that allowed the tragedy to happen. He wants to make sure people understand what really happened during one of America's scariest moments, and he does this by diving into the tricky relationship between witchcraft, religion, and how we remember the past.