Salem Witch Trials Of 1692 Essay

An infamous episode in American history, the Salem witch trials of 1692 resulted in the execution, by hanging, of nineteen villagers, fourteen women and five men, accused of witch craft. Additionally, one man, Giles Corey, was punished by peine et fort, death by pressing (Linder, paragraph 22). These antics could have been the cause of teenage boredom, congregational strife, personal jealousies, and fears of the citizens. The main question is why did this travesty happen in Salem? In 1689, Salem Village would gain a new residence and head minister, comprising of Samuel Parris, “his wife Elizabeth, his six-year-old daughter Betty, niece Abagail Williams, and his Indian slave Tituba” (Linder, paragraph 3). The Parris family moved to Salem in the midst of a change, the town started to change paces with the mercantile elite began to develop, prominent people were no longer assuming and stepping down from positions of leadership, and two religious groups were dividing the town (Linder, paragraph 4). …show more content…
No one knows exactly as to why Betty fell ill suddenly, but researchers believe that it could have been a disease such as “convulsive ergotism”. “Convulsive ergotism” is brought on by the consumption of rye that has been infected with ergot, (Ergot is caused by a fungus which invades developing kernels of rye grain) the modern drug of LSD derives from ergot (Linder, paragraph 5). This day would change the lives of those who lived in Salem. After Betty fell ill the conversation of witchcraft increased throughout the town when her fellow playmates started to become