The Salem Witch Trials In 1692 Colonial America

Salem Witch Trials Essay

Here lies a point in history that is usually passed over without a second thought, but in fact there are some deep truths of society in 1692 Colonial America. With little research, one can find that in 1692 in Massachusetts, a series of charges were held against a group of dangerous witches. Every researcher looking for the truth, though, should ask this serious and important question: Were the Salem Witch Trials truly fair and just? Or were they just the over-reactions of a superstitious community to a childish prank? What are the truths of this time in history?

Research First, before investigating the matter, one must do some research on Puritan views. Puritans held strict laws on religion, and Puritan society
The most reasonable come to the following: physical ailment, mental illness, and outright fakery. A few modern day historians lean towards the first two and the possibility that the girls were having physical and mental illnesses. No explanations seemed plausible to anyone in the town of how the girls were acting so. This and the presence of old and unusual women living in the area led the girls and the community towards the belief that witches and their curses were to blame. But some believe that the children of the town, who were bored with the lifestyle they had, started to behave odd and claim witches were to blame. This entertained them for a while, seeing as how the adults took it so seriously, so they continued with their “game”. The adults were so dutiful to their children that they took the matter farther. This caused the innocent deaths of many unsuspecting people in the area. To further conclude this explanation, the “afflicted” girls would surely have realized that if their accusations were proved wrong or they were exposed as fakers, they would be severely punished as murderers. This would lead to a continuation of accusations, arrests, trials, and deaths, to continue to mislead the suspicions of the susceptible