In the 1600s, before science and the technology we have today, many facts and beliefs were based only on gossip and simple studies. If someone with power or respect stated something, the simple-minded people of this time would believe them without question especially within Puritan colonies. In 1692 for three months in the Puritan colony, Salem, nineteen men and women were accused of witchcraft and brutally hung. Plenty more people were accused and held in jail during this time of confusion and blind allegation. According to the textbook, The American Journey: A History of the United States, the Salem Witch Trials came about because Massachusetts “lacked a legally established government and therefore in all that uncertainty, an outbreak of
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Linder argues that this happened because a bad combination of multiple events. These events included the frontier war, an economic downfall, lack of government, adolescent confusion and envy. Linder talks about Samuel Parris, a man called to Salem to become a preacher, moving to the town with his wife, daughter and Indian slave, Tituba. Parris came to Salem at a time of turmoil when two families were fighting over power, trade was beginning to grow, and people were less willing to accept high positions. A few months after Parris established a home, his daughter began to have strange symptoms. She would run around and act irregularly, complain about fever and cringe from fierce pains. Some theorists now argue that it was from stress, asthma, boredom, abuse, epilepsy and delusions. However, some other theorists say she was experiencing “convulsive ergotism”. Convulsive Ergotism occurred when one digested rye infected with ergot. Interestingly, LSD derives from ergot which could cause hallucinations. Because of the limited resources at the time, no one can be sure of exactly what this child was experiencing. Unfortunately, a book called “Memorable Providences” was released during that era which highly influenced the suspicions of witchcraft being involved with this
Linder argues that this happened because a bad combination of multiple events. These events included the frontier war, an economic downfall, lack of government, adolescent confusion and envy. Linder talks about Samuel Parris, a man called to Salem to become a preacher, moving to the town with his wife, daughter and Indian slave, Tituba. Parris came to Salem at a time of turmoil when two families were fighting over power, trade was beginning to grow, and people were less willing to accept high positions. A few months after Parris established a home, his daughter began to have strange symptoms. She would run around and act irregularly, complain about fever and cringe from fierce pains. Some theorists now argue that it was from stress, asthma, boredom, abuse, epilepsy and delusions. However, some other theorists say she was experiencing “convulsive ergotism”. Convulsive Ergotism occurred when one digested rye infected with ergot. Interestingly, LSD derives from ergot which could cause hallucinations. Because of the limited resources at the time, no one can be sure of exactly what this child was experiencing. Unfortunately, a book called “Memorable Providences” was released during that era which highly influenced the suspicions of witchcraft being involved with this