contextual causes of salem Flashcards
When was the Massachusetts Bay Colony established?
1630
10,000 people migrated to Massachusetts Bay between 1630-1642
How were the New England colonies different to those in the south, like Virginia?
New England colonies were Puritan, the southern colonies were Catholic
Who was John Winthrop and what did he say the ‘mission’ of the Massachusetts + Salem colony was?
To spread Puritanism, complete the English Reformation
“incite the Natives of the Country to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God”
Why was King Charles II disliked within the colonies?
He made Puritan worship illegal and later became Catholic
He tried to centralise control by revoking the Royal Charter and creating one order
Puritans saw his actions as being those of the Devil and a threat to their society, fear and paranoia began.
Who was King James II and Edmund Andros?
Why weren’t they liked by the New England colonies?
King James was Charles’ brother, he created ‘The Dominion of New England’ - brought the colonies together under one rule
Sir Edmund Andros was the Governor of the Dominion of New England, and like King James, had Catholic tendencies
How did Sir Edmund Andros cause discontent amongst the Puritan’s in Salem?
He prevented the addition of Puritan’s into the Town Council, he was appointed by Catholic James II and believed to have have Catholic sympathies
What was the Glorious Revolution in England?
The peaceful removal of King James II from power, with the replacement of Protestant King William and Queen Mary (1687)
What were the consequences of the Glorious Revolution in 1688?
King James is overthrown in England and replaced with a Protestant monarchy, King William and Queen Mary
The Puritan rebels in New England arrest Edmund Andros for plotting with the Pope and send him to England.
Despite being Protestant, why was King William still not trusted in New England?
He continued to enforce rules that tightened control over the colonies.
Puritans saw this as their way of life being challenged and restricted
What was the impact of the monarchical changes and actions on witchcraft belief and the Salem witch hunt?
People began to equate the British monarchy with the work of the Devil.
This created an ongoing fear, which when combined with the Indian threats, heightened people’s fear of ‘outsiders’.
What were the Navigation Acts (1651, 1660, 1662 and 1673)?
An attempt to implement ‘mercantilism’, a way for England to enhance their power by regulating the economy
The colonies were now only allowed to trade with England, no other territories
What was the relative impact of the Navigation Acts on the colonies?
A very limited impact on economic life in the colonies…
But the areas that were affected were those where rebellion was likely due to politically active merchants.
Latent but contributed to discontent and fear
What was the impact of the First Indian War on the colonies?
1/10 of all military ages men were killed, every resident lost a friend or a relative
Salem was under constant threat of attack and residents became wary
What was the Puritan mindset towards Native Americans?
Indians were Devil Worshippers, allies of the French and Spanish (who were Catholic)
In accounts from the time they are described as ‘subhuman’ in the need of ‘extermination’
Why 1692 an important moment in the Second Indian War?
Increase in violence from Native Americans
Needed to be proactive and ‘remove the threat’ → This was achieved by removing witches
People’s fear of the Devil was further exacerbated
