Salem Witch Trials: Socioeconomics, Religion, and Fear
SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY
THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS: SOCIOECONOMICS, RELIGION, AND FEAR
A PAPER SUBMITTED TO SISTER JEANNE LEFEBVRE FOR HISTORIOGRAPHY AND METHODOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
BY
NICHOLAS KNEZEVICH
ADRIAN, MICHIGAN
MAY 2006
Abstract The Salem Witch Trials were caused by socioeconomic problems that were intertwined with the fabric that held early American life together: religion. Puritanism's lack of set doctrine lent itself to the possibility of corrupt leadership. In 1692 this is exactly what happened. Frightened by the possibility of losing his position as preacher to the Salem Village, Samuel Parris exploited the gravest fear that was held by people of that time period: Satan and witches. The Trials were a mess from the very beginning, with random accusations thrown at people from all over the village. The examiners used the worst type of evidence, spectral, to send innocent people to their deaths only to realize years later the flaws of this system.
The Witch Trials are remembered today because people have used fear to promote conformity throughout American history. Joseph McCarthy was one of these people who used fabricated and doctored evidence to frighten Americans about a false communist invasion after World War II. Parris and McCarthy share many similarities in their exploitation of fear and their ability to create a mass hysteria over untrue events.
Introduction
Salem, Massachusetts was a town plagued with both socioeconomic and religious problems in 1692. The town, founded in 1626, was strictly Puritan. Unlike other religions of the time period, such as Catholicism, Puritanism was considered a non-establishment church . Therefore the Puritan beliefs were open to interpretation depending on who was preacher at the time. In this sense the preachers maintained a monopoly on the Puritan Church and what it believed. They used this power to manipulate doctrine, increase membership, and expand individual
THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS: SOCIOECONOMICS, RELIGION, AND FEAR
A PAPER SUBMITTED TO SISTER JEANNE LEFEBVRE FOR HISTORIOGRAPHY AND METHODOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
BY
NICHOLAS KNEZEVICH
ADRIAN, MICHIGAN
MAY 2006
Abstract The Salem Witch Trials were caused by socioeconomic problems that were intertwined with the fabric that held early American life together: religion. Puritanism's lack of set doctrine lent itself to the possibility of corrupt leadership. In 1692 this is exactly what happened. Frightened by the possibility of losing his position as preacher to the Salem Village, Samuel Parris exploited the gravest fear that was held by people of that time period: Satan and witches. The Trials were a mess from the very beginning, with random accusations thrown at people from all over the village. The examiners used the worst type of evidence, spectral, to send innocent people to their deaths only to realize years later the flaws of this system.
The Witch Trials are remembered today because people have used fear to promote conformity throughout American history. Joseph McCarthy was one of these people who used fabricated and doctored evidence to frighten Americans about a false communist invasion after World War II. Parris and McCarthy share many similarities in their exploitation of fear and their ability to create a mass hysteria over untrue events.
Introduction
Salem, Massachusetts was a town plagued with both socioeconomic and religious problems in 1692. The town, founded in 1626, was strictly Puritan. Unlike other religions of the time period, such as Catholicism, Puritanism was considered a non-establishment church . Therefore the Puritan beliefs were open to interpretation depending on who was preacher at the time. In this sense the preachers maintained a monopoly on the Puritan Church and what it believed. They used this power to manipulate doctrine, increase membership, and expand individual
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