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The Puritan Beliefs: The Salem Witch Trials

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In the spring of 1692, Salem Massachusetts, the famous Salem Witch Trials begins after a group of girls claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused a group of women of witchcraft and using the so called “devil’s magic.” As the hysteria spread through the small colonies in Massachusetts a panic began to form as the innocent puritan lifestyle was threatened. In the end, 18 were sent to Salem’s Gallow Hill, and over 200 convicted of witchcraft, the known tradition of the Salem Witch Trials would undergo for years. The Salem Witch Trials grabbed American History by the neck and is not one of our most prideful moments. In Europe as early as the 14th century, beliefs in the supernatural and satanic practice that gave humans the power to harm others spread through New England colonies creating a panic within the very small religious colonies. The Salem Witch trials being the effect of the cause of epidemic with disease and war it was easily forsaken. Puritan views were very easily freed from normal civilization beliefs because of the ongoing issues, because of the very strict and narrow life of most of the villages. It was very easy for a mass scale such as the trials to take place. Everyone was …show more content…

Puritans believed that all sins were to be punished. They believed that god would punish those who sin whether it be your child getting sick or your crops rotting. Puritans believed the devil was as powerful as god. The devil would pick the weakest people to serve for him. Those who the devil chose would be called witches. Witchcraft was the biggest crime you could do and death was the only punishment. Fear of “devils magic” was common in Salem. Many of the townspeople thought there was to be a devil's presence amongst those in the town's community. There were also many conspiracy theories leading behind the town's ministers that could never actually be

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The hysteria that occurred in Salem was driven largely by fear. People were frightened by these strange afflictions, recommenced Indian attacks, and the increase of Quakers and Anglicans in the area (Godbeer 166). Consequently, the infamous Salem Witch Trials arose, leading to dozens of accusations and a shocking number of convictions. Its legacy has led many to believe that all early New Englanders were quick to accuse and condemn suspected witches without any concrete evidence. Escaping Salem shatters this belief.

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This caused the Puritans to believe in evil forces like the devil who could potentially try to lead them into temptation or other sinful things because their faith in God was so strong. In 1692, the Puritans worst nightmare had begun. The Salem Witch Trials had started and an estimated number of 200 people were accused of practicing dark magic and some had been punished by death. These trials consisted of bringing convicted witches into court and sentencing them to be hanged or in prison for many years if proven guilty. To the Puritans, the devil was as real as God, and the devil would choose the weakest people to torment, and those people were mostly women and children.

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The Salem Witch Trials accusing others of a feared crime showed definite evidence that mass hysteria was to blame. Salem was a religious settlement, following Puritan beliefs (Miller, 6). A large fear for everyone in Salem was the touch of the Devil (Miller, Arthur). According to Puritan beliefs, if a man or woman was touched by the Devil he would convince them to do witchcraft. Once word was mentioned the Devil had possibly touched Salem, the fear spread.

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The Salem witch trials, which took place in the late 17th century in colonial Massachusetts, remain one of the most notorious incidents of mass hysteria and injustice in American history. Lasting from 1692 to 1693, this dark chapter claimed the lives of innocent individuals accused of practicing witchcraft. This essay delves into the origins of the witchcraft trials, the role of Massachusetts society in fueling the trials, and the eventual end and repercussions of this tragic event. Origin and First Accused: The witchcraft trials in Salem were sparked by a complex mix of religious, social, and economic factors.

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