SKILL: Historical Context: Identify and explain the events that led to and influenced this historical
development or process.
DIRECTIONS: Today in class, you were to complete this activity in your notebook. Please revise your
paragraph using the Rubric as your guide to ensure you are making progress identifying and describing
Historical Context.
Analyze the Primary Source and describe the Historical Context in a brief 6-10 sentence
paragraph in your notebook. (Historical Context: Provide the Background information
(Who, What, Where, When, WHy) for this historical document.)
PRIMARY SOURCE: William Good, Husband of Sarah Good, Salem resident accused and
hanged for witchcraft in 1692, baby daugh died when mother gave birth in jail
On September 13, 1710 William Good went before the court to receive restitution (compensation) for
the losses he endured years earlier. In his petition he wrote:
"To The Honorable Committee:
The humble representation Will'm. Good of the Damage sustained by him in the year 1692. by reason
of the sufferings of his family upon the account of supposed Witchcraft
1. My wife Sarah Good was In prison about four months & then Executed.
2. A sucking child dyed in prison before the Mothers Execution.
3. A child of 4 or 5 years old was in prison 7 or 8 months and being chain'd in the dungeon was so
hardly used and terrifyed that she hath ever since been very chargeable haveing little or no reason to
govern herself. And I leave it unto the Honourable Court to Judge what damage I have sustained by
such a destruction of my poor family. And so rest Your Honors humble servant
*William Good Salem."
Good was issued £30.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT RUBRIC
Paragraph consists of 6-10 sentences (20 points)
Student provided timeframe and geographical context of the documents (When and Where)
(20 points)
Student included supporting details to demonstrate deeper understanding of the topic
(New vocabulary terms, people etc.) (20 Points)
Student adequately explained and described the History that we have studied that applies
to the document. (Think: What happened BEFORE this document?)