Factors That Influence The Salem Witch Trials - 793 Words

Numerous factors and events helped create and influence the Salem witch trials in colonial Massachusetts. The main factors that started and fueled the trials were politics, religion, family feuds, economics, weather and the imaginations and fears of the people. Salem consisted of 600 residents who were divided into two groups; Salem Town and Salem Village. The residents who wanted to separate from Salem were called Salem Village, they was set apart based on; economy, class, and character. It consisted of poor farming families who made their living cultivating crops.2 The residents who wanted to remain a part of Salem were typically located on the eastern side of Salem--closest to Salem Town, giving them their name Salem Town. The†¦show more content†¦This was a very uncommon perk to be included in a minister’s contract during this time period, the perk especifically angered the residents who wanted to remain a part of Salem Town. The Salem Town supporters showed their opposition by refusing to worship at the Meetinghouse and began to withhold their local taxes, which helped pay the minister’s salary and provided his firewood. In October of 1691 a new Salem Village Committee was elected, it was comprised mostly of Par ris’ opponents. This new committee refused to assess local taxes that would pay Parris’ salary and also challenged the legality of his ownership of the ministry-house property. These actions by the new committee caused Parris and his family to rely solely on voluntary contributions for sustenance. The Putnams were now worried of losing Parris and the soughted independence from Salem Town the congregation would help bring, and Parris was concerned about his job and providing for his family. Salem Village, where the trials took place, was an agrarian, poorer counterpart to the neighboring Salem Town, which was populated by wealthy merchants. According to Benjamin C. Ray, â€Å"it was an economic difference that eventually divided the village geographically into two conflicting groups†¦the poorer agrarian householders who lived on the western side of the village set their hearts and fears againstShow MoreRelatedThe Salem Witch Trials Of 16921281 Words   |  6 Pa gesThe Salem Witch Trials were a sequence of hearings, prosecutions, and hangings of people who were thought to be involved in witchcraft in Massachusetts. These trials occurred between February 1692 and May 1693(The Salem Witch Trials, 1692. ). The Trials resulted in the execution of twenty people, in fact, most of them were women. The first of the trials began in several towns in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, such as Salem Village (currently known as Danvers), Salem Town, Ipswich, and Andover(SalemRead MoreThe Causes Of The Salem Witch Trials Of 1692700 Words   |  3 PagesSalem Witch Trials DBQ   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   How would you feel if your life was ruined just because you were considered unfit for society? This is exactly what was going on during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Prior to the trials, there were witch hunts that caused global unease mainly to Protestant societies. King Philip’s War also contributed to this unease by pushing people from the east coast and into Puritan towns. These towns had misogynistic male leadership, depriving many people of humanity becauseRead MoreIs Witch Trails A Thing Of The Past?923 Words   |  4 Pages Being that the Salem Witch Trails date back to over three hundred years, many people believe witch trails are a thing of the past. However, modern day witch trails are still extremely prevalent. Modern-day witch-hunts are reported to still be happening in Africa, the Pacific, Latin America, even in the U.S. and Europe. According to a New York Times article, within the last fifteen years alone, more than 2,000 Indians have been killed after being accused of witchcraft. Almost all of the accused haveRead MoreThe Causes of the Salem Witch Trials (DBQ)1337 Words   |  4 Pagesseem preposterous. Any behavior regarded as strange by fellow citizens was sufficient to hold a trial with a sentence of death. Though such scenarios seem unfathomable in our modern culture, it was a reality for hundreds of New England settlers. The causes of the famous outbreak of witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts are rooted in social, economic, and political aspects of the late 17th century Salem community. Early New Englanders were unable to accept the increase in diversity and the break inRead MoreEffects Of Puritan Society In The Crucible1060 Words   |  5 PagesA society that praises moral righteousness and piety is destroyed by a series of witch trials that are ironically immoral and unfair. The Salem Witch Trials are fueled by personal motives and feuds that emerge because of the restrictions in Puritan society. The society nurtures a culture of fear and distrust that stems from dread of the devil and strict adherence to the Bible. Salem is the perfect environment for fear and vengeance to spread through witchcraft accusations, because people haveRead MoreSalem Witches and Ergot of Rye Essay1055 Words   |  5 PagesSalem Witches and Ergot of Rye While researching texts written about the Salem Witch Trials, I found a few authors who published articles and books about the Salem Witch Trials. These authors often showed that the most likely cause of the fits coming from the victims was produced by ergot of rye. However, I could not find much discussion about another important source of the fits’ cause: witchcraft. My goal in this paper is to produce a convincing argument that the victims during the Salem WitchRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials Essay1674 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough many people have their assumptions as to what specifically caused the Salem Witch Trials, no one has a definite account. One must use logic and prior knowledge to come to the conclusion and realize that multiple factors play a key role in causing the trials. The Salem Witch Trials were caused by religion, politics, teenage boredom, family feuds, economic conditions, and fears of the people. The overall effect of the trials was a major part in Am erican history, not only was it a learning experienceRead MoreThe Witch Hunt : The Causes Of The Salem Witch Trials952 Words   |  4 PagesSalem Village is located on the northeast coast of Massachusetts. The settlements first title was Naumkeag but was changed to Salem, meaning peace, because it was preferred. Salem was founded in 1626, and is best remembered for the witch hysteria beginning in 1692. A few girls started acting deranged and crazed. A doctor diagnosed them as bewitched, leading to trials and hunts for accused witches. These witch trials and hunts caused nineteen people to be hung and caused one person to be pressedRead MoreWhy Did the Salem Witch Trials Happen1102 Words   |  4 Pagesthe reason behind the Salem Witch Trials in the Year 1692? This is a question that has been asked by historians everywhere for over three hundred years. Although the questions is easily posed by people, the answered discovered by historians are hard searched and revealed. The an swer is difficult to give because there are numerous factors and events that helped create and influence the trials, even before the trials began. The main factors that started and fueled the trials were the politics, religionRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials On Society And Religious Belief1245 Words   |  5 PagesThe Salem Witch trials are an infamous moment in American history , portraying old American thought on society and religious belief. Throughout the years, scholars have adopted theories to explain one of America’s greatest mysteries. In light of such theories, it becomes apparent that there is no magic to explain the decisions that the people of Salem made, but was rather fueled by jealousy of economic success and religious misguidance. Several theories explain the cause of the witchcraft accusations