Why were people blamed for being witches in Salem?

Answer 1

During the Salem Witch Hunt and Trials, the Puritans were a very religious group, who actually believed in the supernatural, and took the idea of the Devil in the literal sense. Several teenaged girls were able to use this belief in the supernatural to convince the people of Salem that the village had been infiltrated by witches. Obviously not everyone believed the girls, however, people soon realized that the frenzy the girls had created made it possible to get rid of people they didn't like or envied. As a result, various people of the village were drawn into the hoax and executed prior to the realization that the entire episode was a lie..

Answer 2

because $hitz and giggles tole himto

If I had a dollar for every joke answer I've found.... if it wasn't summer, I'd do the math.

It is not clear why the accusations were made. We know that the girls were either faking or genuinly afflicted by something, but not witchcraft. The people accused in Salem do not possess a defining trait, except that they lived in or used to live in Essex County. And everyone involved lived in or used to live in Essex. It is often thought by the populace that outsiders of the town and people who never went to church were accused. But John and Elizabeth Proctor were well-loved and respected and many agreed with Martha Corey's label of "Gospel Woman."

Answer 3

Because if someboy didnt like you then they could just accuse of witchcraft and have you hung because a false accusation that was made towards you. Also if you wanted somebody's land you could also accuse them of witchcraft and get there land.

EDIT:

We do not know why the people who were accused were accused because we don't know what caused the affliction. They were accused of witchcraft because there was an affliction that back then could only be explained by withcraft.

Answer 4

The hysteria spread far enough to encompass enough space for it to get that high. And besides, when you compare it to the average European witch panics, 160ish seems very low or very high. (Europe either accused many many or just a few that fit the desciption of witch in the area)

Answer 5

They may have knowledge about the herbs or the children of the suspected, people that were outside of known society such as homeless, those who have poor literacy, or simply accused just because someone didn't like them, or due to disputes such as land ownership or people used accusations of witchcraft if they wanted to kill someone but didn't want to get hung for murder, it was just an easier option.

Greed, fright, ignorance and intolerance.

The Reverend Samuel Parris became Salem Village's Christian minister in 1689. He was disliked because of his rigid ways and greedy nature. The Puritan villagers believed all the quarrelling was the work of the Devil. The reverends daughter became ill along with two other local girls and when questioned repeatedly they blamed several local women who were promptly charged and tried with being in league with the devil. This was the start. Soon after the first trial, over 200 more people were accused for various reasons including jealousy and religious intolerance. Anyone different was suspect and those who coveted their neighbours lands saw this as a way to gain profit for themselves.

Answer 6

Being social outcasts, not going to church or being enemies with the putnam family

Answer 7

They ate too many cocoa nuts.