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Political aspects of the witch trials
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The Salem witch trials occurred between 1962 and 1963 in Salem Massachusetts. The number of people executed ranges from somewhere between eighteen and twenty . There are a lot of factors and events that helped influence and create the trials. Some of the main factors were religion, politics, and the hyped up fears of people. Salem was the last place in America to hunt witches. Church was a major aspect for residents of New England. Most people in Massachusetts were puritans, people who left England seeking religious tolerance. Puritans were very strict and almost everything was dictated by the church. Puritans believed that all sins should be punished. This included anything from sleeping in church to stealing food. They also believed that everything was divine intervention from god, so if a neighbor got sick or had unhealthy crops no helping hand was extended. According to Puritans Satan picked the weakest people to do his biddings. People who followed Satan were considered witches, witchcraft was considered one of the worse crimes. People convicted of witchcraft were put to death. Politics also played a major role of the trials. Before the trials began there was a major rivalry going on between the two “sides” of Salem. The farming people in Salem Village, mainly people in the Putnam family, wanted to separate from Salem Town because they felt that they were being to “individualistic”. Around this time is when William and Mary, English rulers, started a war with France in the colonies. This war sent many refugees to Salem Village creating a strain on their resources. Last but not least of the drama many villagers argued over reverend Samuel Parris, the first ordained minister in Salem Village. The villagers thought th... ... middle of paper ... ...haeology/brief-salem.html?c=y&page=1 (accessed November 1, 2013) Chronology of Events Relating to the Salem Witchcraft Trials, http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/ASAL_CH.HTM (Accessed November 2, 2013) Tim Sutter, Salem Witchcraft: The Events and Causes of the Salem Witch Trials, http://www.salemwitchtrials.com/salemwitchcraft.html (accessed November 2, 2013) Tim Sutter, Salem Witchcraft: The Events and Causes of the Salem Witch Trials, http://www.salemwitchtrials.com/salemwitchcraft.html (accessed November 2, 2013) Jess Bumberg, A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/brief-salem.html?c=y&page=1 (accessed November 2, 2013) Jess Bumberg, A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/brief-salem.html?c=y&page=1 (accessed November 2, 2013)