How Did The Salem Witch Trials Result Of Mass Hysteria

During the Salem Witch Trials, which were a series of witchcraft trials that took place in 1692 in Massachusetts, nearly 19 people were executed by hanging and 200 people were accused of witchcraft with various consequences. There are several theories surrounding the causes of the Witch Trials, but most historians agree that they were a result of mass hysteria within the population of Salem and other surrounding towns. The circumstances that contributed to the mass hysteria surrounding the Massachusetts Salem Witch Trials of 1692 include ergot poisoning, family rivalries, and a strong belief in the occult. Each of these theories are very real explanations which could have contributed to the events in Salem, although none of these events have

Ergotism comes from a fungus called Claviceps purpurea. It infects wheat, rye and other various grasses that were commonly farmed in the time of the trials. When the crop is first infected, the head of a grain will release yellow mucus which contains fungal spores that can spread the disease. Within the Sclerotia, which are the purple or black grains that form after the yellow mucus, are chemicals such as ergot alkaloids like including lysergic acid (which LSD is made from) and ergotamine. These ergot alkaloids will affect the nervous system, causing spasms or contractions. In the records of the Salem Witch Trials, there are accounts of the people accused of witchery having spasms or convulsions very similar to the ones seen in ergot poisoning. Along with the convulsions, people would also experience a feeling as if someone is biting or

One of the most powerful families in Salem was the Putnam family, and because of their puritan beliefs, they strongly supported and believed in the Trials. Over 50 people were directly or indirectly accused by members of the Putnam family. Throughout the course of the Trials, many families fought against the Putnam family to try and end the witch hunt and one of these families was the Burrows family. The feud between the Burrows family and the Putnam family began when George Burrows accepted the job as minister for the town because he wanted to bring Salem town and Salem village together. John Putnam believed that he could influence Burrows into preaching against witches but as tensions grew from the possibility of a merger with the neighboring town, Burroughs decided to leave his job and abandon the project completely. Before Burroughs left, he had a debt to pay John Putnam of 15 pounds, but Putnam became angry with Burroughs for leaving his position and attempted to get Burrows arrested. Burroughs ended up being the only minister executed during the Salem Witch Trials and was executed by order of John Putnam. “If the Putnam's and others ever laid plans to ensnare any one person in the course of the witch-hunt, that