Salem Witch Trials: Social Hierarchy Of Women In Puritan Society

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During the times of the Salem Witch Trials, the Puritans had a social hierarchy that was appointed by God. They also believed that God created well ordered communities. The men in these communities were highly literate. If they lived in a big enough town they would be able to go to grammar school, which prepared them for Harvard. The women had very little education because they were not able to attend grammar school (Faragher, 59). It was also shown in the Puritan society that men were superior to women. This was shown through married women not being able to make contracts, own properties, vote, or hold office. The women that were not married, childless, widowed, or had reputations of independence were seen as very suspicious by their neighbors

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