Tough question answered with religious answers in 17th century
When girls acted unreasonably, they were possessed by devil
200 people were accused of witchcraft
Rivalry between salem town and salem village
Villagers led by Putnam family resisted change
Villagers led by Porter had ties to Town
Sameul Paris elected new minister of Salem
Opportunity to gain respect
Extravagant demands
Paris's Indian servant told teenage girls forunes
One girl saw coffin
Ministers daughter had fits
Then his niece did too
Both girls diagnosed with witchcraft
Girls blamed Indian servant and other disreputable people
In her examination, Indian servant confessed and corroborated girls stories and accusations
Other witches that she couldn't recognize in town
Accusations gave people way to take revenge against neighbors
Paris fanned the flames from pulpit
Accusers villagers, accused townies
Rebecca Nurse devout church member, but friend of Porter family
Dragged out of sick bed at age 71 to stand trial
Found innocent
Accusers erupted
Retried, excecuted, then excommunicated
People confessed b/c confessor lived longer
Those who didn't brought to trial faster and then executed
Spectral evidence criticized
Governor Fitz dissolved court
Those accused exonerated
Last time in American history that anyone would die of conviction of witchcraft
Problems stem from lack of science, and from religious fervor
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