The Salem Witch Trials were a series of trials in which people were accused of practicing witchcraft. During the trials many people were tried for witchcraft, and several were executed because of these accusations. There are many theories surrounding the causes of the Salem Witch Trials. Five possible causes are boredom, the strong belief in the occult, personal differences, the cold weather theory, and ergot poisoning. There is a sufficient amount of belief surrounding each of the theories, but is it possible that more than one of these theories played a part in the witch trials.
The Salem Witch Trials began in Salem Village, Massachusetts in the spring of 1691. The Salem Witch Trials were a “series of witchcraft cases brought …show more content…
Although this may sound silly today, it was widely believed by colonist in Salem Village Massachusetts. When people are put in difficult situations they often try to search for answers as to why they are suffering. Many people were starving and sick, so people began to search for answers. Many believed the town’s misfortune was brought on by witchcraft. In these hard times sacrifices had to be made, so it is possible that the trials were used as a way to weed out those who were no longer valuable and just another mouth to …show more content…
Ergot poisoning is the “consumption of rye grains contaminated with a fungus known as ergot.” The consumption of the fungus has been known to cause hallucinations and convulsions similar to those experienced by the girls who were allegedly bewitched. Favorable growing conditions for ergot include “a cold preceding winter and cloudy, wet spring, with fog and high humidity.” The winter of 1691 was very cold, and the following spring and summer very hot and humid. These conditions were just right for the contamination of rye grain. The crop failure led the Puritans to consume freshly harvested, and most likely contaminated, rye. Three of the “afflicted” girls lived on the Putman farms, where the ergot most likely thrived on the rye. Also, the age and sex of the afflicted resembled that of other ergot epidemics. Symptoms of the afflicted, including seeing apparitions, feeling pinpricks and pinches, burning sensations, resemble convulsive ergotism.
The final theory seems to be more likely that most of the other theories. Ergot poisoning seems to have the most supporting evidence. This theory is based off of scientific reasoning and makes the most sense. It gives the best supported cause for the girls’ fits. Many of the other theories do not explain why the fits occurred, and if they do there is only theoretical evidence. The evidence supporting this theory is based off of science and statistics,
The Salem Witch Trials began in Salem Village, Massachusetts in the spring of 1691. The Salem Witch Trials were a “series of witchcraft cases brought …show more content…
Although this may sound silly today, it was widely believed by colonist in Salem Village Massachusetts. When people are put in difficult situations they often try to search for answers as to why they are suffering. Many people were starving and sick, so people began to search for answers. Many believed the town’s misfortune was brought on by witchcraft. In these hard times sacrifices had to be made, so it is possible that the trials were used as a way to weed out those who were no longer valuable and just another mouth to …show more content…
Ergot poisoning is the “consumption of rye grains contaminated with a fungus known as ergot.” The consumption of the fungus has been known to cause hallucinations and convulsions similar to those experienced by the girls who were allegedly bewitched. Favorable growing conditions for ergot include “a cold preceding winter and cloudy, wet spring, with fog and high humidity.” The winter of 1691 was very cold, and the following spring and summer very hot and humid. These conditions were just right for the contamination of rye grain. The crop failure led the Puritans to consume freshly harvested, and most likely contaminated, rye. Three of the “afflicted” girls lived on the Putman farms, where the ergot most likely thrived on the rye. Also, the age and sex of the afflicted resembled that of other ergot epidemics. Symptoms of the afflicted, including seeing apparitions, feeling pinpricks and pinches, burning sensations, resemble convulsive ergotism.
The final theory seems to be more likely that most of the other theories. Ergot poisoning seems to have the most supporting evidence. This theory is based off of scientific reasoning and makes the most sense. It gives the best supported cause for the girls’ fits. Many of the other theories do not explain why the fits occurred, and if they do there is only theoretical evidence. The evidence supporting this theory is based off of science and statistics,