The Influence Of The Salem Witch Trials

Although there are numerous factors and events that helped shape the influence on the Salem witch trials, there is plenty of evidence that the trials were caused by the community. In the year 1692, the church and state were not separated. The Puritan society followed a path where religion was enforced by the government. Superstition was also a contributing factor to the trials. The trials did not have scientific explanations and it was all based off of fear.
To start off, the Puritan society blamed misfortune on the supernatural and this created the perfect environment for mass hysteria, which lead to the Salem witch trials. The people of Salem were paranoid and suspicious of the smallest issues. Their way life was very strict, and even small

differences in behavior would cause everyone to be suspicious. They feared what they did not know know and understand so they sought some kind of solution. The Puritans fear of the devil lead them to the witch trials. They were afraid and wanted an answer so they blame any suspicious people. If a few people were to become sick, the Puritans would assume that it was because of witchcraft. In 1692, the church and government were one. They did not have logical reasoning or any scientific explanations for the events that happened. In court, they would have to prove why they were not guilty.
The Salem witch trials began because of one person’s superstitions that lead people to believe it was witchcraft. It is like a snowball rolling down a hill, getting bigger and bigger. The Puritans had no logical reasoning for the reason why things happened. The explanations for why things happened were based on fear of the devil and their wild imagination. Suspicion and fear drove the town into hysteria.
Finally, the Puritans strict religious views caused the trials to happen. If anyone strayed from the Puritan lifestyle they were considered social outcasts. Everyone was expected to comply to the teachings of the church such as attending sermons and to avoid sins such as dancing. The members of the community felt it was their duty to get rid of sinners because they believed that they were working for the devil. Sarah Good, Sarah Osbourn, and Tituba were easy targets for the accusation of witchcraft because they were social outcasts. Sarah Osbourn did not attend church so she was easily accused. Tituba’s confession spurred the hunt for more witches. The one reason she confessed this was so she would be released from jail. Everyone listened to her confession and they believed her. Religious feuds played a huge part on the witch trials. In the Puritan society, life revolved around church. Anything different from their religion would make people suspicious of you.
The community caused the Salem witch trials for numerous reasons. The Puritans society was strict and if anyone strayed, they were easily accused for being a witch and working for the devil. Scientific reasoning was not introduced until later, so Puritans based everything off of religion. All aspects of life revolved around the church and those that did not conform to the Puritan way of life would be used by the devil. People were accused for many reasons, and some of it was just revenge and harsh feuds. The Putnams were great contributors to this aspect of the hysteria. The Puritans strong believed in the wrath of god so that is why supposed witches were punished so harshly.