The Salem Witch Trials During the seventeenth-century, an outbreak of witchcraft struck Salem Village, Massachusetts. Was it really witchcraft or was it just petty children? Either way, this took a toll on the New England colony and influenced history greatly. There are many documents and cases that reveal how the hysteria began, how it continued, and abruptly ended. The “afflicted girls”, Sarah and Dorcas Good, were not apart of Salem Village, but accused Tituba, the slave of Samuel Parris, of witchcraft. Many accusers lived on the west side of Salem Village, versus the east where most everyone was a defender. The Putnam family resided on the west side. They were very influential in the community and supported Samuel Parris, the pastor of
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These changes are believed to have effected the events. Notice that the clergymen played a large role in causing the trails to break out. The people attacked the lower class and people who formally played in a large role in the community. Many believe that Samuel Parris caused the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials as a last chance to bring back the ways of the Puritan church. Right before the trials many of the New England colonies became apart of England in hope that they could gain wealth and more power. Many colonies benefited from this collaboration, but not Massachusetts. The governors were appointed by political leaders in England and the Toleration Act of 1690 was enforced. Massachusetts was established so that the people may free themselves from the church in England, but also have commentates strictly on religious beliefs. With the Toleration Act, the Puritans now had to protestans worship freely within their community. Massachusetts was slowly loosing its foundation. The Protestants started to gain land and wealth. With land and wealth, came power. With the uprising of non-puritan communities and leaders, the puritans felt that they were losing their doctrine. The people started to lash out and became hostile towards other denominations. It is believed that because of the new changes, the trials were blown out proportion to bring people back to the
These changes are believed to have effected the events. Notice that the clergymen played a large role in causing the trails to break out. The people attacked the lower class and people who formally played in a large role in the community. Many believe that Samuel Parris caused the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials as a last chance to bring back the ways of the Puritan church. Right before the trials many of the New England colonies became apart of England in hope that they could gain wealth and more power. Many colonies benefited from this collaboration, but not Massachusetts. The governors were appointed by political leaders in England and the Toleration Act of 1690 was enforced. Massachusetts was established so that the people may free themselves from the church in England, but also have commentates strictly on religious beliefs. With the Toleration Act, the Puritans now had to protestans worship freely within their community. Massachusetts was slowly loosing its foundation. The Protestants started to gain land and wealth. With land and wealth, came power. With the uprising of non-puritan communities and leaders, the puritans felt that they were losing their doctrine. The people started to lash out and became hostile towards other denominations. It is believed that because of the new changes, the trials were blown out proportion to bring people back to the