Reasons : The Causes Of The Salem Witch Trials

Puritans in Salem were colonists that had left England to seek religious tolerance. The life of a Puritan was extremely restrained and strict. Reverend Samuel Parris, was appointed minister to the village’s only church in 1689, to later have strong objections lodged against him in 1691. Parris’ response was that the Devil was set on destroying their, to which his job was to bring God back to Salem village. The first to be afflicted was his daughter, Betty, and niece, Abigail. After trying to cure both girls, it was concluded that witchcraft was the cause of their inability to control their own bodies. The majority of villagers who were accused of witchcraft did not belong to the covenant, implying that those who didn’t live the same life as a Puritan were easily the ones behind the witchcraft. During these accusations, mostly women were accused of witchcraft. As mentioned in ___________ , it said that “As Richard Latner has recently shown, there was ‘an environment of divisive religious contention’ in

In 1692 the area of Salem town and Salem village became very vulnerable to conflict. Severe weather such as hurricanes had damaged land and crops, the effects of King Phillips War began to impact New England society, and colonists were being forced off of the frontiers by Native peoples. The Church and the government were in heavy conflict. And those residing in Salem began to grow suspicious of one another when some prospered and others hadn’t (Marcus, p13).

Salem Village in Massachusetts was a normal town, with normal people, until the end of the 1600’s when a witchcraft epidemic drove on by fear took the lives of 19 people. Although people at the time thought these “witches” were working for the devil, it is now recognized that the trials were merely a product of the people’s environs. Most of the people in Salem attended a Congregational church where they learned about the punishment of God for a multitude of sins, including witchcraft. The Puritan church was very influential in the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692 because they believed they were taking a stand for their religious beliefs. This was specifically true in the case against Tituba, the Indian slave, owned by Reverend Samuel Parris.

At that point in history there was a strong belief in witchcraft, along with a great fear of Satan, which may have led to the mass hysteria that ensued. Also, many of the girls who began the accusations were originally from towns in Maine and had lost one or both of their parents to Indians; this led to them begin forced to Salem as servants. These girls may have desired the attention and power that was taken from them when their parents died. It is also possible they may have been jealous of many of the women they accused; the majority of women who were accused were privileged and economically secure. The Salem Witch Trials were also enlarged when the judges began ignoring the ban on spectral evidence and began using these testimonies to convict accused witches. Economic and social factors may have played a part in causing the increasing numbers of accusations as well; the distribution of wealth within Salem was vastly unequal between the eastern and western halves as only the eastern side benefited from the local ports and rich soil. All of these factors possibly contributed to the start and continuation of the Salem Witch Trials for several

Most of the people in Salem are Puritans. Puritans have a different beliefs and lifestyle. They have high expectations in the workforce and in holding back opinions and emotions. Puritans have strong faith in God and they have the faith in the idea of covenants of God, Adam, and Abraham so they have a strict moral code. Some of the Puritans are full covenant members of the church so they are free and have full citizen rights. They believe that everyone who have sinned must be punished and everyone who follows Satan is a witch.

The forces in society also acted in the creation of this hysteria. The socioeconomic problems of Salem Village might have been the root of the problem. Salem Village was a agricultral community that shadowed in its neighboring market town's prosperity, Salem Town. Most of the condemned were from the flourishing town, and the accusers from Salem Village. Witchcraft might've been the way Salem Village took out its negative feelings on Salem Town. Furthermore, historians also believed that the younger generation of women that said they had been cursed by the older 'nonconforming' generation of women because they were jealous that they lived a more free lifestyle than they could've had. Racism and fear towards Indians also factored in, as some described the devil as 'tawny,' a characteristic connected with Native Americans. These societal reasons might've created the Salem Witch Trial's

One of the main reasons for the Salem Witch Trials was land disputes. Land was an important thing back in 1692. Salem was divided into Salem Village and Salem Town. Salem town was the

The Salem witch trials were based on the Puritans' belief in the conflict between God and Satan. Puritans had always believed that they were the new chosen people, abandoning a land of sin and oppression to establish the Promised Land. In the small town of Salem, Massachusetts, a town existing most of the Puritans, any sign, word, or even thought of the devil was considered immoral. One evening, many girls were found dancing, naked in the woods, with incriminating devil worshiping paraphernalia. When discovered they were accused of practicing witchcraft. The rumor of possible witches in Salem quickly spread throughout the community. Three girls Abigail ,Tituba, and Mary Warren caused mass hysteria in Salem through their alleged wrongdoings. The people of Salem were in uncertain times. Just a year earlier a witch in the nearby town of Beverly was executed and now the witch hysteria had spread to their village. Confused, the people didn't know who to blame whether it be the girls, the negro slave, or even the Devil himself. The deception of the witches of Salem was beginning. ... There

The real question is what really caused the Salem Witch Trials? Although, a straight answer cannot be given it is with certainty that the paranormal conclusions can be ruled out. In reality, this travesty of horrors can be blamed to the tension between two different types of economies, personal jealousies, and a high influence of power. Samuel Parris, the reverend in charge of the minister of Salem Village, was invited to assume leadership in 1688. He moved to Salem Village with his wife, his

The interpretation that most accurately describes the events at the Salem Witch Trials is the excerpt from Bryan F. Le Beau, The Story of the Salem Witch Trials, Second Edition. Le Beau writes how the town was small and a “contentious community”. It was in Salem village outside of Salem town where the hysteria began. The blame for much of the paranoia lies with the hiring of Samuel Parris as village minister. He had lived life as a failed businessman in Barbados and moved to Boston after his failed attempts there as a sugar merchant. He failed in business in Boston and turned to ministry. Le Beau states how there were “negotiations over compensation” in hiring Parris.

The type of people involved in the trials was the surroundings of the Salem village, puritan religion, but mostly women. Their belief was sacred to both, god and devil. They believed that women were too weak to fight the devil and lose so they become the devil's servant, which is a witch. Puritans also believed in predestination which is having god already knowing it they go to heaven or hell. No matter what life they had, whether good or bad, they will be going to the place god assigns them.

Salem, massachusetts is a coastal city first settled by Europeans in 1626. The village was a swift growing farming area with a flourishing trading and urban area.As usual in history, as the population grew, so did the wants of the townspeople. Many wanted separate churches, which prompted the idea that there was somewhat of a divide between citizens. Granted, a separate church was provided which caused a divide between classes in Salem and Salem Village was created. The village was given the freedom to elect a committee for the new church.

Before the trials began a rift was forming between the Town of Salem and the Village of Salem. The Town of Salem was evolving, and becoming more mercantile which displeased the Village.

The displaced people created a strain on Salem 's resources. This aggravated the existing rivalry between families with ties to the wealth of the port of Salem and those who still depended on agriculture. Controversy also brewed over Reverend Samuel Parris, who became Salem Village 's first ordained minister in 1689, and was disliked because of his rigid ways and greedy nature. The Puritan villagers believed all the quarreling was the work of the Devil.

Political and economic issues played a role in the witch hysteria in many different ways. Salem Village was divided on several issues, this division made people more likely to that their neighbors were witches. It also gave them the motivation to accuse those they disagreed with, of practicing witch craft. There were also those who took advantage of the