Essay On The Causes Of Salem Witch Trials

Possible Causes of Salem Witch Trials

Salem Massachusetts had an outbreak of bewitched people in the late 1600 hundreds. This accusation started when three teen girls had odd outbreaks of manic episodes that couldn’t be medically explained. The episodes started in 1692 is when the first person was accused of being “bewitched” and lasted until 1693, with 200 people accused while 20 were executed. Possible causes that led to the Salem Witch Trials include jealousy, disease, and fear.

One of the lead causes of the Salem Witch Trials was disease also know at the time as Ergotism. Rye was a grain that could become troubled by the fungus ergot. Ergot can be compared to the modern drug LSD, “...most common symptoms include seizures, convulsions,

The jealousy had been a problem since 1692, as Salem village was supplying for Salem town but they still didn't have the money that the “buisness men” in Salem town had. In the quote “His early sermons spoke about the power of the devil, and he even convinced the residents of Salem that the devil lived among them. Soon after the first accusations of witchcraft took place”(CSI 3). The new reverend, Samuel Parris convinced everyone the devil was with them and the community believed him as they were scared they wouldn't have any money because Salem town dropped all the crop prices after the separation. All the accusers were from Salem Village and the first accused were “living along Ipswich Road, the dividing line between the village and the town”(CSI 3). This made some people think they were lashing out because they had always been underneath them. “Economic jealousy of fringe groups in the small culture who felt disenfranchised and relatively deprived and who intended to get revenge on the landholders and wealthy citizens”(The Salem witch Trials by Jensa Williams). People started to realize “Most of the accusers in Salem were poor”(The Salem witch trials by Jensa Williams) and were just trying to get back at the well known people for dropping their prices and messing with their money and putting them at jeopardy to pay their

According to witchcraft in Salem “Surely the Devil had come to Salem in 1692”(1).They community was convinced that satan was with them as Samuel Parris had preached it to them so they were walking on eggshells to make sure they were not bewitched by satan. “Even the bodies of those who were accused of witchcraft were examined to find possible portals for Satan to enter the body; they looked for moles, warts, or birthmarks”(CSI 5). If you were simply born with any blemish the accusers would take you to trial and you would most likely be executed or sent to prison for years. The trial system was very strict and they didn't believe most people, “If they do not confess to witchcraft, they will be hanged, those who confess will spend their life in prison”(Witch hunt by Sameul Sewall). The accused had to lie in court to save their lives if they didn't they would be hung and killed, their fear drove them to commit another sin which was lying. Women already had a target on their backs as women were viewed as weak and unworthy because they didn't bring in as much money as men and didn't work like men