Essay on The Role of the Puritan Church in the Salem Witch...

The Role of the Puritan Church in the Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials were a time of confusion, where half a dozen girl accusers threw the town of Salem on its head. The end result was 19 hung and one crushed to death for failure to admit or deny witchcraft and 150 more were imprisoned throughout the course of the trial (Hall p38). The Puritans came to the â€Å"New World† for their religious freedom to fallow their ideals for a new way of life, the â€Å"perfect way of life.† They were issued charter--to live on the land--. The King Phillip’s war labeled as â€Å"[t]he bloodiest war in America’s history †¦which†¦took place in New England in 1675† (Tougias par.1) had a dramatic effect on the Puritan society. Their charter was revoked and†¦show more content†¦xi). â€Å"The residents of Salem were after all, Puritans, which means they viewed their community not just as a group of individuals, but as a single entity united under God† (Possible Causes†¦ Par.3). The s ocial tension caused by the differing opinions on the separation of the village from Salem Town strongly contradicted their religious ideals that they were all supposed to be as one. The farming people in Salem Village thought that the thriving economy of the harbor in Salem Town made it far to individualistic (Sutter Par.3). Samuel Parris has a long and eventful history that shaped his views and actions while he was preaching in Salem Village. At the age of 20 Parris inharated his fathers sugar plantation in Barbados while he was attending Harvard (Linder â€Å"Parris† Par1). The wealth that Parris had accumulated while in Barbados was sufficient enough to support him and his new family when he moved to Boston (Par.2). Unhappy with his life as a merchant Parris decided that it was time for a change in his vocation. In 1691 he began to substitute for absent ministers and speaking at informal church gatherings (Par.3). After the birth of his third child with his wife Elizabeth Eldridge, Parris began to have formal negotiations to become the preacher for Salem Village (Par.3). The marriage of Parris and Eldridge linked him toShow MoreRelatedThe Salem Witch Trials Essay1674 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough many people have their assumptions as to what specifically caused the Salem Witch Trials, no one has a definite account. One must use logic and prior knowledge to come to the conclusion and realize that multiple factors play a key role in causing the trials. The Salem Witch Trials were caused by religion, politics, teenage boredom, family feuds, economic conditions, and fears of the people. The overall effect of the trials was a major part in American history, not only was it a learning experienceRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials of 1692941 Words   |  4 PagesA. Plan of the investigation The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a dark and very crucial time in American history. The late sixteen hundreds consisted of relying on young girls for the truth; but to what extent did the puritan’s religion and culture have in the proceedings of the Salem Witch Trials? A focus on the religion that the puritans believed in and their culture will be discussed. Also, how their faith turned them against those who were accused of witchcraft. It is also neededRead MoreNegative Effects Of Puritan Culture On American Society1232 Words   |  5 Pageswitchcraft. They are living during the corrupt time of the Salem witch trials. Thomas Satterwhite Noble’s oil painting â€Å"The Witch Hill,† which typifies the mood described above, depicts a young woman being escorted to her execution because she has been accused of witchcraft. Looking at this work, it becomes clear that this alleged witch is a regular woman with a regular life. Her soft eyes suggest that she is innocent. During the Salem Witch Trials, various people , such as the woman in this painting,Read MoreSociological And Societal Issues That Influenced The Sweeping Accusations Of The Salem Witch Trials Essay1620 Words   |  7 Pagescontributed to sociological and societal issues that influenced the sweeping accusations of the Salem Witch Trials. The â€Å"witch hunt† frenzy began in Salem Village in early 1692 all due to two young girls influence. Three main societal issues prevalent at this time could have led to the hysteria and rapid movement of the witch hunt idea. The chaotic beginnings in leadership of the church at Salem Village, the strict Puritan lifestyle and beliefs of villagers, and the entertainment value of witchcraft cultureRead MoreThe Causes of the Salem Witch Trials (DBQ)1337 Words   |  4 Pagesseem preposterous. Any behavior regarded as strange by fellow citizens was sufficient to hold a trial with a sentence of death. Though such scenarios seem unf athomable in our modern culture, it was a reality for hundreds of New England settlers. The causes of the famous outbreak of witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts are rooted in social, economic, and political aspects of the late 17th century Salem community. Early New Englanders were unable to accept the increase in diversity and the break inRead MoreThe Main Causes Of The Puritans In The Salem Witch Trials1527 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"You’re a liar! I’m no more a witch than you are a wizard! If you take my life away, God will give you blood to drink!† This testimony is one out of the several given during the Salem Witch Trials which has become known as one of the mass hysterias to ever occur in American history. In 1692, individuals known as Puritans settled among a small village named Salem in what is now known as Massachusetts. The Puritans spent the beginning years of their settlement confronted with epidemics such as famineRead MoreSalem Witch Trials : A Part Of History1018 Words   |  5 PagesHistory 112 Dr. Patricia Hoskins May 20, 2016 Salem Witch Trials Like Slavery the Salem Witch Trials are a part of history that all would like to erase. In Salem Massachusetts the colonist were mostly made up of Puritans. Puritans were lead on the firm foundation that the Bible was, is and still the only word. This lead to the belief that this was the only way to convict, judge and execute those of a satanic faith, such as witch craft. The Salem Witch Trials were mostly conducted between the monthsRead MoreSalem Witch Trials1478 Words   |  6 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a series of trials in which twenty-four people were killed after being accused of practicing witchcraft. These trials were caused by different social climates of the area including the very strong lack of a governor, the split between Salem Village and Salem Town, and the strict puritan lifestyle during the time period. Tituba, the black slave, was a foreigner from Barbados. Her role in society was to take care of Mr. Parris’s family. Tituba’s situat ion contributedRead MorePuritans And The Church Of England1301 Words   |  6 Pagesseventeenth century, England Puritans noticed that the Church of England was tolerating too many practices that were associated with the Church of Rome. The Puritans frowned upon this. The Puritans held a high view of scripture and believed that the English Reformation had not gone far enough in reforming the church (The Puritan Beliefs, 2004). The England Puritans desired to ‘purify’ and change the church from within, however it was unsuccessful in England and Puritans relocated. In the early-midRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of The Salem Witchcraft Trials1552 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚   The Massachusetts Salem witch craft trials, this was a complicated time in history.   With the conflict of the hangings, Salem didn’t have the best compromise. At a time in history when the government didn’t give Puritans religious rights, the Salem Massachusetts witch craft trials began . This conflict led to trails where the government convicted men and woman of practicing witch craft, thus being hanged. Though this compromise stopped the witchcraft practicing, the government realized those men