All of the following may have contributed to the mass hysteria that led to the Salem Trials except: A. Rivalry between the farming Salem Village and the business oriented Salem Town. B. Strong, trustworthy leaders insisted in the existence of witchcraft. C. The Puritans belief in god was faltering in the New World. D. The people were already on edge from the close proximity of the Native Americans. E. The strange behavior of the girls brought on ergot food poisoning. Twenty-four innocent victims lost their lives in the Salem witchcraft hysteria. How did the community of Salemlet this tragedy happen? Was it simply fear and superstition, or were there other factors at work?The events of 1692 took place during a difficult and confusing period for Salem Village. As part of theMassachusetts Bay Colony, Salem was under British rule. When the hysteria began, the colony was waiting fora new governor and had no charter to enforce laws. By the time the new governor, William Phips, arrived inMassachusetts, the jails were already filled with alleged witches. To make matters worse, New England townswere under attack by Native Americans and French Canadians.Salem Village faced daily challenges closer to home as well. Most families had to support themselves, makingtheir own clothes, planting vegetables, raising meat. Farming was often a painstaking task in the harshclimate and rough, rocky terrain-and a drought or flood could ruin a year's harvest. An epidemic of small poxcould kill a family. In a world where people saw the Devil lurking behind very misfortune, it is little wonderthey believed evil spirits were at work. Church was the cornerstone of 17th century life in New England. Most people in Massachusetts werePuritans-colonists who had left England seeking religious tolerance. But the strict Puritan code was far fromtolerant. It was against the law not to attend church-where men and women sat on opposite sides throughlong services. The Puritan lifestyle was restrained and rigid. People were expected to work hard and represstheir emotions or opinions. Individual differences were frowned upon. Even the dark, somber Puritan dresswas dictated by the church.Since Puritans were expected to live by a rigid moral code, they believed that all sins-from sleeping in churchto staling food-should be punished. They also believed God would punish sinful behavior. When a neighborwould suffer misfortune, such as a sick child or a failed crop, Puritans saw it as God's will and did not help.Puritans also believed the Devil was as real as God. Everyone was faced with the struggle between the powersof good and evil, but colonists believed that Satan would select the weakest individuals women, children, theinsane to carry out his work. Those who followed Satan were considered witches. Witchcraft was one of thegreatest crimes a person could commit, punishable by death in the 17 century.

Question

All of the following may have contributed to the mass hysteria that led to the Salem Trials except: A. Rivalry between the farming Salem Village and the business oriented Salem Town.  B. Strong, trustworthy leaders insisted in the existence of witchcraft. C. The Puritans belief in god was faltering in the New World. D. The people were already on edge from the close proximity of the Native Americans.  E. The strange behavior of the girls brought on ergot food poisoning. Twenty-four innocent victims lost their lives in the Salem witchcraft hysteria. How did the community of Salemlet this tragedy happen? Was it simply fear and superstition, or were there other factors at work?The events of 1692 took place during a difficult and confusing period for Salem Village. As part of theMassachusetts Bay Colony, Salem was under British rule. When the hysteria began, the colony was waiting fora new governor and had no charter to enforce laws. By the time the new governor, William Phips, arrived inMassachusetts, the jails were already filled with alleged witches. To make matters worse, New England townswere under attack by Native Americans and French Canadians.Salem Village faced daily challenges closer to home as well. Most families had to support themselves, makingtheir own clothes, planting vegetables, raising meat. Farming was often a painstaking task in the harshclimate and rough, rocky terrain-and a drought or flood could ruin a year's harvest. An epidemic of small poxcould kill a family. In a world where people saw the Devil lurking behind very misfortune, it is little wonderthey believed evil spirits were at work. Church was the cornerstone of 17th century life in New England. Most people in Massachusetts werePuritans-colonists who had left England seeking religious tolerance. But the strict Puritan code was far fromtolerant. It was against the law not to attend church-where men and women sat on opposite sides throughlong services. The Puritan lifestyle was restrained and rigid. People were expected to work hard and represstheir emotions or opinions. Individual differences were frowned upon. Even the dark, somber Puritan dresswas dictated by the church.Since Puritans were expected to live by a rigid moral code, they believed that all sins-from sleeping in churchto staling food-should be punished. They also believed God would punish sinful behavior. When a neighborwould suffer misfortune, such as a sick child or a failed crop, Puritans saw it as God's will and did not help.Puritans also believed the Devil was as real as God. Everyone was faced with the struggle between the powersof good and evil, but colonists believed that Satan would select the weakest individuals women, children, theinsane to carry out his work. Those who followed Satan were considered witches. Witchcraft was one of thegreatest crimes a person could commit, punishable by death in the 17 century.

Accepted Answer

Salem Witch Trials occurred in Salem village, Massachusetts in the years 1692 and 1693. Around 200…