Salem Witch Trials

Changing Communities
Settlers first stayed in clusters for protection from animals, Indians, weather, and starvation
Settlers branched out with more colonial stability. Land became scarce with higher populations
Ports allowed for vital supplies as well as a place to trade goods
Some earned more money than others, creating upper and lower classes
Some colonists felt a loss of community or jealously against others

Social Upheaval
More established families had better, more profitable lands
Families lost power the farther they moved out
Wars with Indians decimated the male population
The numbers of widows and orphans increased
Women began to gain more landowning privileges
Many widows and orphaned daughters took work as servants for entrenched upper classes
In New England, many settlers immigrated for deeply held, conservative, religious beliefs

Witchcraft
European superstition held that witches could destroy property, possess others' souls, cause illness, and display “aggressive, unfeminine behavior”
1691: Several teenage girls asked an African slave woman, Tituba, to tell them their fortunes and talk about sorcery.
Later, the girls appeared to act abnormally. Citizens pressured them to say who possessed them
The girls named 2 white women and Tituba

Fear
Fear and hysteria led accusations to become evidence alone; “spectral evidence” allowed
In all of New England, 342 people were accused of witchcraft. One-third were women who had or would inherit large tracts of land
In Salem, 29 were convicted of witchcraft, 19 killed (14 women)
About 150 were imprisoned

Effects
An aversion to superstition and more emphasis on reason and rule of law
Newer generations were less willing to accept restrictions on personal behavior and economic freedom
Rise of the “Protestant work ethic.” Instead of focusing on religious piety, citizens worked hard for trade and economic gain
Settlers became more open to outside influences