Salem - Why the hunts began? Flashcards
What are the 3 paragraphs for why the hunts began in Salem?
- Political conditions/ weakened authority
- Indian threats
- Social tensions
What evidence is there for political conditions/ weakened authority?
- Glorious Revolution (James II overthrown) -> led to overthrow of Andros
What RC is there for political conditions/ weakened authority?
- Massachusetts was a heavy puritan society (1630s migration from England)
- Andros policies had lead to lack of authority
What was the impact of the political conditions/ weakened authority?
- Influence of Mather grew -> encouraged fear in Salem of foreign beliefs
- When things went wrong, saw Devil at work
- Increase/ Cotton Mather led rebellion
What is the link of the political conditions/ weakened authority?
- Lack of authority exacerbated events ->made widespread
- Shows strength of theocracy
- Did not trigger sudden urge of events
What is the evidence for the Indian threats?
- 1st Indian war, 1/10 of military men killed, outsiders seeked refuge (population growth of 3%)
- 2nd war coincided around same time as hunts
What is the RC for the Indian threats?
- Puritans thought Indians were Devil worshippers
- Indian attacks from early days of European settlement
What was the impact of the Indian threats?
- Fostered a deep seated paranoia concerning God’s willingness to allow the Devil to attack Puritans
- 2nd war led to further attack feeling from outside -> growth of fear and use of spectral evidence
What is the link of the Indian threats?
- Fear led to change in social view -> hunts became easier and more significant
- Fear indirectly caused events in Salem
What is the evidence for social tensions?
- Between Salem Village/ Town (600 people)
- Village, agricultural and staunch Puritans
- Town, less agriculture and religious belief
What is the RC for social tensions?
- Massachusetts governed as theocracy -> aspects of life followed strict religious principles
What was the impact of social tensions?
- Poor harvest -> village accuse town
- Porter family tried putting end to witchcraze, found difficult when allies under suspicion
What is the link for social tensions?
- Helped trails become widespread
- Tensions led to accusations, reasoning beyond witchcraft