The Witch Hunts: The Salem Witch Trials

This all began in the small area of Salem Village, Massachusetts. These events started when some young girls claimed that others were supposedly “possessed by the devil.” A young girl started with this excuse after her and a handful of others were caught by a man while she and the other girls in the village were dancing in the forest, but some had claimed they were performing rituals to summon the devil himself. The word spread and anything someone thought was off about another person, or if they did not have a close bond was their way to accuse them of being a witch and getting rid of them forever. All of these reasons had been false and not what they were said to be, and people also were able to use this against people, neighbors, or outsiders …show more content…
Many of them were supposedly enemies of the famous Putnam family. The text states, “The accusation and arrest of many innocent people could have emerged from jealousy and resentment found in this powerful family, known as ‘the chief prosecutors in this business’ ” (Karson). The mass wealth of the Putnam family had saved them from any form of prosecution. Many were jealous of the lands and riches they had in their possession. The jealousy only added to the Putnams’ strength as they followed to make false accusations against those who despised them. “She was to appear before the authorities the following morning to account for having, over the previous two months, tortured two girls in the Parris household as well as Thomas Putnam’s daughter and Dr. Griggs’s maid” (Schiff page 45). This accusation was made with no proven evidence, and was taken into belief since everyone in the area had become crazed on the idea that anyone in the village could be in communication with the devil, and or be committing acts of witchcraft. The Putnams’ words were very powerful throughout the community, although they lacked valid evidence to be provided to the courtrooms. It was almost always believed that someone is telling the truth about what they saw or heard gossip about, it was crucial in the communities religious views for any “sinners” to be thrown into trial if accused, and given the …show more content…
At the end of the trials, the court and villagers had realized that there was no true harm occurring from the beginning, and that the accusers were either just jealous and or wanted to gain something out of accusing a fellow villager. The Puritan way of life had persuaded the villagers into believing that they are living an almost perfect way of life. Such beliefs had provoked the mass interest in other villagers and their daily lives. If your daily activities were considered sinful and or you didn't display actions of puritanism, you could have easily fallen into an accusation of witchcraft. The false accusations that led to the Salem Witch Trials were jealous actions, suspicious neighbors, and the fear of