In American history, the Salem witch trials were a series of inquiries and repressions that resulted in the hanging of 19 accused “witches” and the imprisonment of several additional suspects in Salem Village, Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Salem executions took place later in the timeline when the fury of the European witch hunt subsided (Starkey 19). Instead of going after those who were already suspected of being witches, the “hunts” were attempts to find witches. Witches were viewed as Satan’s disciples who had exchanged their spirits for his help. Nowadays, there are theories about the cause of the Salem witch trials in the United States, but scientists cannot determine a single reliable version.
It was thought that they traveled through the air at night to private meetings and wild parties, that they used demons to do magical feats, that they shifted from human to animal shape or from one human figure to another, and that animals functioned as their familiar spirits. There is no doubt that some people actually worshiped the spawn of Satan and tried to use magic for any purpose; however, no one has ever truly envisioned the idea of a witch.
The Native American Wars could have helped the Salem hysteria. King Philip’s War was one of the bloody clashes throughout the colonies. Additionally, the front stages of this conflict were not too far from Salem. There was a great deal of worry in the area since the conflicts had affected most people there. Many feared that nearby Native American tribes might launch further assaults and attacks. Before making their accusations, several of the affected girls who suspected women of enchanting had seen initial raids. Therefore, it has been proposed that seeing such attacks may have contributed to some post-traumatic stress, which may have served as the initial inspiration for these claims.
Although there are a number of ideas concerning the incident’s roots, historians believe widespread hysteria was the cause of the Witch Trials. Moreover, the strict beliefs of the Puritans prohibited several types of amusement for both adults and children. In addition, since females were subject to stricter limitations than boys were, it was much worse for them. Their primary forms of recreation consisted of reading books, participating in fortune-telling small groups, and hearing numerous stories.
The Puritans held a sincere conviction in witches and witchcraft. Witches were thought to have a relationship with the devil that allowed them the ability to cause damage. They were held responsible for a wide range of disasters, including sickness, failing crops, inclement weather, and other events that, even three centuries ago, had an utterly sensible explanation. The locals, however, tended to the most absurd theories because of their strong belief in the paranormal. Witches and witchcraft posed real dangers to them.
Many people who were convicted of witchcraft had unresolved differences with their attackers or were viewed as a danger to Puritan principles. Members of the Putnam family, who adhered to traditional Puritan beliefs and practices and ardently backed Reverend Samuel Parris, the leader of the witch hunt, made people the subject of explicitly or implicitly accusations. The Porters, a Putnams’ rival family, made an effort to unite the locals against the trials. The attempt was unsuccessful, and followers were charged with witchcraft.
According to the Cold Weather Theory, the Salem incident may have been connected to the harsh weather, especially a search for someone or something to hold accountable for the accompanying problems, such as crop loss. Historical documents that show how chilly the years before the Salem Witch Trials were provide credence to this argument (Markham-Cantor 10). Additionally, the infamous witch hunt occurred between the middle of the 14th and middle of the 19th centuries, during the so-called Great Witch Craze and the Little Ice Age, a time of freezing weather. Another theory for the witch frenzy in late 17th-century Salem is eating rye grains tainted with ergot, a fungus. The fungus can, if consumed, result in seizures and delusions similar to those that the claimed charmed girls reportedly went through. The circumstances were ideal for the ergot to spread immediately before the Witch Trials.
Many of those participating in the trials would later engage in both private and organizational acts of remorse. The Massachusetts General Court proclaimed a day of abstinence and reflection in memory of the sorrow that the trials had brought forth (Markham-Cantor 12). The Salem witch trials’ excesses led to modifications in American court practices, including the assurance of the right to counsel, the opportunity to cross-examine an accuser, and the protection of individuals rather than guilt. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the Salem trials and the witch hunt served as powerful analogies for the persecution of marginalized communities.
In conclusion, there are several ideas on what led to the Salem witch trials in the United States, but researchers have not been able to settle on a single trustworthy account. Although there are many theories regarding its causes, historians think the Witch Trials were brought forth by widespread panic. The stringent Puritan beliefs forbade a number of forms of entertainment for both children and adults. Reading books, taking part in fortune-telling in small communities, and listening to many stories were their main pastimes. The Salem trials and the witch hunt still serve as potent allegories for how disadvantaged groups are persecuted today.
Works Cited
Markham-Cantor, Alice Star. “A Witch in the Family: Story, Legacy, and Justice in the Salem Witch Trials.” 2018.
Starkey, Marion L. The devil in Massachusetts: a modern inquiry into the Salem witch trials. Pickle Partners Publishing, 2018.