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How Did The Salem Witch Trials Affect Society

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Several centuries ago, people had the believe that the devil gave power to harm people in return for their loyalty. Things really turned chaotic in the town of Salem, Massachusetts, when a group of girls claimed to be possessed by the devil. These dark fearful times were known as the Salem Witch Trials. During the witch trials people were constantly fearing their life. People turned on each other due to the fear that was spreading and sought revenge. This was the reality for hundreds of people. Social cohesion during the Salem Witch Trials impacted individuals and society during this time which lead to the executions of innocent people.
The notorious Salem witch trials began in the summer of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts.
A wave a mania took people by surprise, leaving them in shock and fear. After a group of young girls declared to be possessed by the devil, the people of the town started to take this seriously. The belief in supernatural power began to emerge in Europe as early as the 14th century. The Salem witch trials would be surfaced by residents’ …show more content…

The majority of the townspeople were Puritan Christians. There was strict code that everyone expected to follow including children. The Puritan legal code which was made in 1691, that stated crimes would have the punishment of death which include: idolatry, witchcraft, blasphemy, murder, poisoning, and bestiality. One of the biggest crime someone could commit was witchcraft. Nobody wanted to be accused of being a witch because it would give them a bad reputation so in order to draw attention away from them they would accused other people of worshipping the devil. This is all started with the niece and daughter of Samuel Parris, the reverend of Salem, who accused began to display unusual behavior. Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba were the first three to be accused by these two girls. They would be the first of hundreds to be accused of

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