BP1: The social, economic and political context of Salem

How many were accused and how many killed as a result?

200 accused, 20 killed

How many Puritans migrated to Massachusetts 1630-42?

around 10,000

Puritan power in Salem?

• residents required to pay taxes to the church

• Puritans given exclusive right to vote

• non-Puritans could be banished from the colony for spreading dissent

Who governed the New England colonies from the time of James II (1686)?

Edmund Andros - an experienced soldier, with high church tendencies and an unwillingness to include well-established Puritans on his council

Andros’ policies which contributed to his fall and subsequent lack of authority after the Glorious Revolution of 1688?

• he attempted to have CofE services delivered in Puritan churches and Puritans suspected him of having high church tendencies

• introduces taxes for the focusing on import and export duties - necessary as the colony was a drain on the English Exchequer

• all land under the Massachusetts Bay Colony was declared void and Puritan landowners had to pay fees and challenge to get it back

Glorious Revolution (1688) speed recap?

• James Declaration of Indulgence (1687) (suspends penalties against Catholics) - 7 priests were arrested after refusing to read it - people happy about this

• leading political figures = scared of a Catholic heir bc James’ wife was pregnant

• Asked William of Orange to intervene and James fled in 1688

• Convention Parliament 1689

• William defeats James at Battle of Boyne 1690

Impact of the Glorious Revolution on Massachusetts?

• news reached in April 1689

• Puritan colonists revolt against Andros

• Led by Increase and Cotton Mather

• Andros is captured and sent to England

• 1691 new Massachusetts charter - William II declared voting depends on property ownership rather than religion - all officials appointed by the crown - governor can block laws passed by the council

When was the first Indian war?

1675-1678

With which war did the trials collide?

The Second Indian War, during which the both sides - British and the French - made allies with Indian tribes

How did Puritans view the natives?

• Devil-worshippers who attempted to prevent a godly society from being created

• treated as subhuman and in need of extermination

Economic crisis in Salem?

• 1st Indian war ruined the economy - half of NE towns attacked

• growing population 3% per year + establishment of new towns meant settlers lives were not entirely destroyed

• 1680’s colonists asked for military assistance from England - contributed to the rise in tax under Andros

Importance of the Navigation Acts on the Salem economy?

• 1651, 1660, 1662, 1673

• decreed that good imported to England + territories had to be carried on English ships (trying to remove the Dutch monopoly) and that goods had to be taken to England first

• made it difficult to ship grain to England so Massachusetts farmers had to diversify

Beliefs of the people in Salem?

• ignored scientific revolution

• crop failures, fires, illnesses, hallucinations = work of the Devil

• non-conformists were viewed with suspicion

• women = inferior —> Eve/original sin

Combined population of Salem town + Salem village?

600

Where did most accusers come from?

Salem Village - agricultural and staunchly Purita, had less contact w/ the outside world compared to Salem Town

What did Salem Town mostly comprise of?

Merchants, who relied on Salem Village for agricultural good, and so resisted demands for the Village to gain independence.

Leading family in Salem village?

Putnams - heavily involved in accusations

Opposing family to the Putnams?

The Porters - richest family who had business interest in Salem Town - attempted to put an end to the craze but whose allies found themselves under suspicion