Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch trials act was the largest witchcraft hunt in American history. Hundreds were accused of being witches and some executed. I believe that the people who got accused of being witches, were both poor and had some type of relationship with the Parris and or Putnam family. Some people have a theory that the young girls just pointed fingers in every direction and accused random people. It was just too eerie that in someway, all of the accusers and accused, were connected.

90 percent of the people accused and executed, were low class and poor. They were also, living in the lower class Salem Village. Before the trials, the Puritans living in Salem had a rivalry. At the end, the group split in half. The wealthier Puritans went to Salem town and the lower class Puritans went to live in Salem Village.

The Puritans had a very strict way of practicing christianity. The Puritans had traveled from Europe because they wanted to "purify" the christian ways. The king of England disagreed with their wished so they decided to come to the New World. Most settled in New England and was apart of Salem Village or Salem Town. The large group banned anything and everything that was abnormal. While living as a Puritan, you were unable to watch or be in plays and listen to

non-religious music. The clothing was very bland and simple. Not much went on it a Puritan life. During the time of the Witch Trials, Puritans believed that the devil was behind any out-of-the-ordinary thing. They were very cautious and concerned that the devil was among them.

30 percent or more of people who are exposed to the infection,smallpox, die. The smallpox outbreak in 1692 killed about 500 people in the Salem Village area. This deadly disease spread rapidly throughout New England, causing anxiety within communities. Many people were questioned in why they were healthy, while their neighbors were dying by the second. At the time of the smallpox damage in 1692, doctors didn't have enough resources to catch the disease early and treat it properly. People were dying left and right and no one knew why or how to control it.

Children and teens living in strict Puritan houses during the 1600's, didn't have much to do. Television had not been invented yet and anyother other type of entertainment was forbidden by the Puritans. You could often find children doing chores and attending