Salem Witchcraft Trials: Attitudes Toward Women

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The Witchcraft Trials

1. Question: How did the Salem witchcraft trials reflect attitudes toward women and the status of women in colonial New England?

Answer: The people of Salem looked down upon property owning widows or any women who did not fit the social norm. The upper echelon wanted the women of Salem to be of lower rank than the males and any women who was not subordinate to a man was considered suspect.

2. Question: Why were colonial New Englanders willing to believe accusations of with craft about their fellow colonists?

Answer: The colonial New Englanders were willing to believe the accusations because the life styles of the so called “witches” did not line up with that of the cooperative men and women of Salem. This caused not