The Cause And Causes Of The Salem Witch Trials

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1692 was a tragic year for the people of Salem. The events that took place in 1692 would prove to be a turning point for not only the people of Salem but the rest of pilgrim towns in The New World. What set the trials in motion is still partially a mystery. Whatever the cause, it is known that the results of the trials were inhumane and brutal. Over thirteen people were sentenced to death during the witch trials. These trials were a set of accusations and arguments set in rapid succession, resulting in mass hysteria and the conviction of over 200 men and women. For this paper, I will be delving into the causes and results of the brutal Salem witch trials, and what affect it had on the pilgrim towns in early America. The trials begin in the …show more content…

The new Governor Phipps orders that spectral, or ghostly, evidence could no longer be admitted in the trials. He also prohibited further arrests. In order to counter Phipps attempts to stop the trials, a superior court was formed and all the remaining witches were tried. Judge Stoughton ordered the execution of all suspected witches, however, Phipps denied enforcement of the order, and caused Judge Stoughton to leave the bench. 49 of the 52 survivors were brought into court and released because their arrests were based on spectral evidence. Among those in jail, Tituba was released and sold to a new master. Phipps soon pardoned all those in jail on witchcraft charges. This marked the end of the Salem Witch …show more content…

To early settlers, land was a new life starting from scratch. Land was golden to them. And people would not easily give it up. A feud between land could easily turn brutal. Such may have been the case with the Nurse family and the Putnam family. The more powerful Putnam family could have been looking for a way to end a land dispute with the Nurse family in their favor. The would have likely thought that they would somehow get someone to accuse Rebecca Nurse, have her executed, receive a plot of land, and move on. Obviously things got out of hand as soon as a single person was

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