Salem Witch Trials Cause

Before the Salem Witch Trials even began there were still accusations of witchcraft being made starting with Margaret Jones in 1648 but no one had ever confessed before, giving the town officials/judges nothing to prove that witchcraft existed ("The Salem Witch Trials: Facts & History"). What the main cause of the Salem Witch Trials was believed to be was Tituba when she confessed to witchcraft. This community was highly religious and had a strong fear of Satan, as mentioned above, and so when Tituba confessed that she as well as others were witches working for Satan, it caused mass hysteria and caused the massive witch hunt to begin ("The Salem Witch Trials: Facts & History"). Before Tituba confessed there had been no proof that witchcraft existed, however, after she did this led to a witch hunt due to the belief that there could be more “witches” out there causing destruction to the

During the period of the witch trials, it became an opportunistic time for residents of Salem to have revenge on those who they abhor. Many used this opportunity to accuse others of witchcraft whether they were guilty or otherwise, in order to satisfy their own personal interests. Long enduring disputes were finally settled during this hysteric crisis, in which scant evidence was necessary for conviction. Since the institution of the witch trials, "Old scores could be settled on a plane of heavenly combat between Lucifer and the Lord" (Miller 1237). Overall, vengeance fueled the fire of retaliation in Salem during this period of witchcraft trials.

The rest of the accused were thrown in jail for months with out trials . The Salem Witch Trials were brought up by the belief of the supernatural, a recent smallpox epidemic, and fears from being attacked from the Native Americans, and longstanding rivalry with other town’s people. They were also fueled by their fear of outsiders and the suspicions and resentment of their neighbors. The trials were the start of something bigger that happened. The events that took place in Salem in 1692 are a part of a greater pattern throughout our history to persecute innocent people, especially women, as "witches."

Assumptions were made hysteria had set in fear had begun to rise, blame was being placed, and the blackest most sinful secrets of the accused came alive and posted on the churches door for everybody to see. So, how does an un-yielding container that is able to heat substances to high temperatures relate to the Salem Witch trial? The witch hunt in many people’s opinions is a melting pot in which the lives of those who lived in Salem during the witch hunt started to melt into one large catastrophe because of the horror that was going on around them and the many people that the villagers knew that had been affected or the villagers that had been affected themselves during the hangings.

Between people constantly worrying of who was next to be accused to the continuous conversation about the afflicted, hysteria creeped up upon the people of Salem. In both novels does the usage of hysteria enhance the plot. In I Walk in Dread, Deliverance, the protagonist of the story, is just one example of a person caught up in the drama of the witch trials. In the beginning of the novel, Mem, sister of Deliverance, and Deliverance were very close, as Mem was sick. This obviously was occurring before the craziness of the witch trials.

Fear of being arrested or put to death is the key motivation in turning others in as witches. From these three human flaws, the town of Salem falls into chaos with many innocent people paying the price. Vengeance plays a key role in causing the mass hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials. Abigail Williams, who?s probably most to blame for the trials, acts out of revenge. She and John Proctor have had an affair and when Elizabeth Proctor finds out, she throws Abigail out of their house.

Abigail had to lie because she was scared of society and she began to bring other girls into this craze and got her and them into deep lies they could not get out of. It would be a reasonable statement to say that the girls were pressured into doing it by Abigail and once they were in it there was no getting out of this lie. Society had a big say on who was accused as witches, like the people who did not go to church were to be seen as people that could work with the devil. This was my interpretation on social pressure in society (Salem Witch Trials Edition).

There were many major controversies throughout history. The Salem Witch Trials was one of those major catastrophes. The Trials caused panic and hysteria throughout Salem. Many innocent people died or went to jail for being accused a witch. People who were considered to be their friends or neighbors were turning on them accusing them of witchcraft.

The Salem Witch Trials were started by a couple of bratty girls who decided it would be enjoyable to accuse someone of being a witch, and then contort their bodies and act afflicted any time that person came around. Sadly, the accusations of these girls were taken very seriously by the judge and adults of Salem. People were convicted of witchcraft simply because they had irregular moles or blemishes on their faces. Yes, the people of Salem were in a mass hysteria, filling up jails with “witches” to the point where the jails reached capacity and they could not fit any more people in them. They were able to accuse these people through mob mentality, Puritan culture, and forced conformity.

The thought that witches could control their mind and body and make them do crazy things. They were determined to rid Salem of the devil. The chaos was not only in Salem. Communities throughout New England were concerned about witchcraft. All throughout there were accusations about witches in the community.