The Salem Witch Trials, in 1692, was a phase in American history when the Puritans settled in Massachusetts and extraordinary events began. The events that occurred stirred up hysteria within the people. The hysteria was also induced by propaganda of the North Church and the fear of the unfamiliar land and people, accusations, and God. The idea of witches existing and infesting themselves in Puritan daily life caught and spread through the Puritan communities quickly. As a popular influence, the church helped circulate the word of sorcerers with ease. All the fears embedded in the Puritans' minds, a few being the Native people who behaved like animals and the Devil that waited in the shadows to spring on them, made it difficult for rational
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Fear itself is alarming but to fear another human is dangerous. The Salem Witch Trials are proof of it. The church lit the fear inside the Puritans, and like fire, fear grows fast. According to Text 2, "Salem Witch Trials," by A+E Networks, the Puritans feared the Native Americans because they were outsiders and dreaded their attacks. That was all it took to initiate the fear of the Devil, whose shadow also resided in the wilderness, and witches who lived among them. This situation, where the Puritans were forced to believe in the supernatural, caused them to take horrific action toward another human being. In Text 2, there was a point in time when the justice system couldn't handle all the witchcraft accusations and William Phips became governor in May of 1692 to change that. Phips created the Court of Oyer and Terminer which dealt with the first conviction of Bridget Bishop in June. Bishop was hung on June 10th, "five more in August, eight in September." More accused died in jail and one man of a failed torture attempt. Another depressing thought is many Puritans, who weren't witches, yielded to the accusations when they were afraid thier God would damn them if they did not. Some confessed because they were convinced they were an enchantess. These accusations made were out of fear. Fear led syblings, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and neighbors to accuse one another. No one was safe and first thought was, action had to be
Fear itself is alarming but to fear another human is dangerous. The Salem Witch Trials are proof of it. The church lit the fear inside the Puritans, and like fire, fear grows fast. According to Text 2, "Salem Witch Trials," by A+E Networks, the Puritans feared the Native Americans because they were outsiders and dreaded their attacks. That was all it took to initiate the fear of the Devil, whose shadow also resided in the wilderness, and witches who lived among them. This situation, where the Puritans were forced to believe in the supernatural, caused them to take horrific action toward another human being. In Text 2, there was a point in time when the justice system couldn't handle all the witchcraft accusations and William Phips became governor in May of 1692 to change that. Phips created the Court of Oyer and Terminer which dealt with the first conviction of Bridget Bishop in June. Bishop was hung on June 10th, "five more in August, eight in September." More accused died in jail and one man of a failed torture attempt. Another depressing thought is many Puritans, who weren't witches, yielded to the accusations when they were afraid thier God would damn them if they did not. Some confessed because they were convinced they were an enchantess. These accusations made were out of fear. Fear led syblings, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and neighbors to accuse one another. No one was safe and first thought was, action had to be