The accusations and executions of witches had been infrequent throughout English America. It was not until 1692 when citizens of Salem, Massachusetts decided to start prosecuting and hanging their neighbors as witches. These prosecutions and the deaths that came with them are known as the Salem Witch Trials. There are many reasons, two major ones being religion and politics , why the trials started in the first place.
At the time a strict, religious group known as the puritans were in control of Massachusetts. Religion was one of the causes of the events that happened in the spring of 1692. Puritans were suppose to live by a strict moral code. Women who were considered social outcasts of the religion were the first to be accused of witchery. …show more content…
The strained relationship between the two groups led to the eventual dismissal of Reverend Parris. The bad financial state his family was left in made it no surprise when the first witchcraft accusations and afflictions came from his very own household. The financial stress that was placed on the family most likely contributed to the Parris children's unforeseen change in behavior that was immediately interpreted as being the result of witchcraft. Another manner in which the political state of Salem contributed to the trials dealt entirely with the rivalry between the anti-separation and separation groups. The members of one group tended to make allegations against members of their opposing group of witchcraft, but did not accuse those in their own group. This shows the way that these allegations were in all probability a consequence of the political conflict and the strain of familiar economic difficulties, as opposed to actual suspicions of witchcraft.
In conclusion, from 1692-1693 nineteen people were hanged in Salem, Massachusetts for suspicion of witchcraft. The salem witch trials were caused by religious and political issues happening in the 1690s. The pious Puritan religion and the churches want for people to got to church and obey the bible as well as women's social status prompted to the hysteria surrounding Salem and the trials that followed. Politics surrounding the town of Salem and the Parris family were indeed factors that put into motions the killings of “witches” in
At the time a strict, religious group known as the puritans were in control of Massachusetts. Religion was one of the causes of the events that happened in the spring of 1692. Puritans were suppose to live by a strict moral code. Women who were considered social outcasts of the religion were the first to be accused of witchery. …show more content…
The strained relationship between the two groups led to the eventual dismissal of Reverend Parris. The bad financial state his family was left in made it no surprise when the first witchcraft accusations and afflictions came from his very own household. The financial stress that was placed on the family most likely contributed to the Parris children's unforeseen change in behavior that was immediately interpreted as being the result of witchcraft. Another manner in which the political state of Salem contributed to the trials dealt entirely with the rivalry between the anti-separation and separation groups. The members of one group tended to make allegations against members of their opposing group of witchcraft, but did not accuse those in their own group. This shows the way that these allegations were in all probability a consequence of the political conflict and the strain of familiar economic difficulties, as opposed to actual suspicions of witchcraft.
In conclusion, from 1692-1693 nineteen people were hanged in Salem, Massachusetts for suspicion of witchcraft. The salem witch trials were caused by religious and political issues happening in the 1690s. The pious Puritan religion and the churches want for people to got to church and obey the bible as well as women's social status prompted to the hysteria surrounding Salem and the trials that followed. Politics surrounding the town of Salem and the Parris family were indeed factors that put into motions the killings of “witches” in