The Salem Witch Trials

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A real fear feels like death, but less satisfying. These fears enthralled the minds of the naive and frightened during the most dangerous time to be alive in New England, The Salem witch trials. The fire inside the Salem Trials needs a fuel, fed to it from the spoon of the stupid, will grown until it burns everything in sight. Who knew a mere lack of knowledge could get 20 people killed and drag Puritan society through hell. Highly religious peoples had a large role in fueling the hysteria that occurred during the trials. The fear from being attacked during the Indian war also had a played a big role in why the Witch Trials kept going strong for so long. The Salem witch trials, fueled by fear and influenced by hardship of Puritan life and deep religious integration led to mass hysteria in the New England Colonies in 1692. The idea of witchcraft may have flourished in Salem but it certainly did not originate there. Known records of witchcraft stretch as far back as the 13th century. Many of the oldest ideas of the supernatural originate from Germany at the earliest (13th century) and other European countries like Russia and France (15-16th century). The original idea of witchcraft was thought of as having an affiliation with the devil. Specifically they thought of women to be witches because they were thought to be having intercourse with the devil himself. Many supernatural entities also originated in Germany like vampires and hobgoblins. Many more accusations were made throughout the 15th and 16th century all over Catholic Europe without cease. Witchcraft started popping up in the new world soon after 1647 when a young girl named Alse Young was hanged after being accused of causing misfortune to the children and families of Weth... ... middle of paper ... ...g in over twenty deaths, hangings and sacrifices. In a time where the fear of God was stronger than the fear of death, women and superstition were the victims. The thought process of people in Puritan New England is not as acceptable as it is now. Psychologists have determined that the symptoms expressed by victims of witchcraft match the symptoms commonly shown by one who suffers from Bolus Hystericus or a hysteria. Most of the judges and accusers were thought to have had Bolus Hystericus which is part of the reason why it got so out of hand. Beyond psychology the trials had other contributing factors. The Salem Witch Trials, fueled by fear and influenced by hardship of Puritan life and deep religious integration led to mass hysteria in the New England Colonies in 1692. The Puritans of New England were lucky they never found a real witch, real witches don’t burn.

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