What Is The Cause And Effect Of The Salem Witch Trials

It first began in January of 1692. A group of young girls, who later became known as the “afflicted girls”, fell ill and started behaving strangely. The first to start experiencing symptoms was Betty Parris, followed by Ann Putnam, Abigail Williams, Mercy Lewis, and Mary Walcott. Shortly after five more girls also began to experience the same symptoms, consisting of contorting in pain, hiding under furniture, “fits”, and experiencing fever. Numerous modern theories propose that the girls were suffering from boredom, epilepsy, mental illness, child abuse, or even a disease caused by eating rye infected with fungus (Brooks). Samuel Parris called for a doctor in February to examine the girls. Unable to find anything physically wrong, he suggested
The quantity of people charged and arrested in May, soared over thirty people. Regardless that the witch hunt started in Salem, it swiftly expanded to the neighboring towns, and dozens of residents were brought and put on trial in Salem (Brooks). The first person to be brought on trial was Bridget Bishop, who had been accused of witchcraft years prior but was vindicated of the offense. Five of the afflicted girls had accused Bridget, and in spite of her persistent defense of innocence, she was convicted and hanged on June 10th on what would became known as Gallows Hill (Brooks). When a loyal member of the Church in Salem Village, Martha Corey, was accused, the community was greatly concerned. If she could be a witch, then anyone could. The magistrates went as far as questioning Sarah Good’s four year old daughter, and her timorous answers were fabricated as a confession (Blumberg). The accusations began to decline in June, but nevertheless still continued. Five people were hanged in July, one of which was Rebecca Nurse, a well-respected, pious, and well-loved member of the community. Many were confident that she would not be found guilty. Her initial verdict was not guilty, whereupon the afflicted girls began having fits in the courtroom. A week later the jury reconsidered and declared Nurse
These factors created a tense environment in Salem (Brooks). Many historians believe that the girl’s parents were encouraging and pressuring the girls to accuse certain people in the community that they weren’t partial to, in a cold act of revenge. In addition, they have noted that a number of the accused were wealthy and possessed separate religious beliefs than their accusers. This, coupled with the fact that the accused had their estates confiscated if they were convicted, has led countless historians to believe that religious feuds and property disputes play a big part in the witch trials (Brooks). Not everyone supported the trials or believed in witchcraft in Salem. There were many critics of the witch hunt, who called the girls scam artist. Consequently, critics were often charged of witchcraft and brought to trial as well, under the supposition that anyone who defend the accused or denied the existence of witches must be one of them