The accusations of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials were primarily made by Puritans. The trials, which took place in 1692 in colonial Massachusetts, involved a series of hearings and prosecutions of individuals accused of witchcraft, largely fueled by religious fervor and societal tensions. While Pilgrims and Puritans both sought to create a "pure" community, it was the Puritans who were directly involved in the Salem events. The hysteria led to the execution of 20 people and the imprisonment of many others.
Puritanism served as a motivating force in the witch hunts by instilling a strict moral code and a belief in the supernatural, where the devil was seen as a constant threat to their religious community. The Puritans' emphasis on sin, guilt, and the need for social conformity led to heightened fears of witchcraft as a manifestation of evil within their society. This environment fostered suspicion and paranoia, prompting individuals to accuse others of witchcraft as a means of enforcing religious and social norms. Additionally, the Puritan belief in divine punishment contributed to a climate where the persecution of alleged witches was viewed as a necessary act to protect the community.
During the Salem Witch Trials, people would look for anything out of the ordinary to accuse someone of witchcraft. One woman who wore brighter colors than normal and who had a bit of temper was accused of being a witch. She was innocent, but was still killed. Basically anything that was the tiniest bit out of the ordinary for a Puritan was a sign of witchcraft.
accuse
Can impeach (formally accuse) the president.
racism
In The Crucible Abigail accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft.
In his introduction to the play how does miller explain what really motivated the people of Salem to accuse their neighbors about witchcraft?
She was accused of witchcraft and sorcery, and burned at the stake.
revenge
To try to keep herself out of trouble
They want revenge
Well, simply put, A Puritan use to be part of a Catholic Church but had different opinions and wanted a reformation. Some stayed and reformed the church from within. Others, Independents, Separatists, wanted to start a new one by themselves! They are much close or if not is, a pilgrim. As pilgrims are just people that travel due to religious causes. Puritans also try to find a strict, theocracy community. One of such would be Salem, where hysteria and paranoia on witchcraft was then taken greatly. Puritans believe either that you are with God or against God (aka. with the Devil). Those who help the devil, and perform spells and charms are witches. It wasn't really invented but it was something that the Puritans felt strong against. As due to the 19 death via accusing of witchcraft by August 1692, it was mainly due to random accusations. Witchcraft can show no witness, you can be attacked by a ghost sent by a person, and the only thing you can do is, accuse him/her. As of such, it's even harder to prove your innocence, since even if you were elsewhere, you would've send a spirit instead of your physical body.
Hale does not accuse Elizabeth of Witchcraft. He visits the Proctor household to ascertain how religious they are. He finds three faults; Proctor non attendance at church, youngest son not baptised, and a short fall in John Proctor's knowledge of the Commandments.
Betty Parris
Ruth Putnam
Most all historians agree, fear was the motivating factor behind the accusations of witchcraft in Salem Village. Even though the cause of the fear is not known. This era of New Englander believed witches exist and had the power to do harm.
He accused people solely because he wanted their land and the more land that person had the more he wanted them gone