Gender and socio-economic status played many roles in the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Socio-economic status was a big reason why people were accused. “Most of the victims came from the commercial eastern end of town, the majority of their accusers from the economically stagnant western side” (Faragher 60). This means many of the poor people in town accused the rich. Almost all the accusations were false. The poor people would do this so the rich people’s land would go up for auction. This allowed them a chance to own more land, and possibly get rich themselves. Being female was another big reason for accusations. “The majority of the accused were unmarried, childless, widowed, or had reputations in their communities for assertiveness and independence”
