Salem Notes

Causes:

Economic:

Navigation Act 1663 - All goods had to be trans-shipped through England first, duties payed, reduced amount of money and goods flowing into the colony, draining its wealth and worsening the impact of the Indian Wars BUT act had been in place for a long time and, though there had been 27 executed, execution rate of 25%, 100 cases, first execution in 1647, clearly not a catalyst

Authorities - Andros’ economic policy, introduced new taxes, especially import and export duties, severe resentment created as no previous taxes, necessary as colony draining English funds, 1691 William’s Massachusetts Charter, property-based electorate, not religion, officials appointed by Crown, not elected, governor could block laws passed by council, ,

War - 1/10 all military age men killed in First Indian War, in Second Indian War half of new England towns attacked, Springfield burned to ground, taxes rose under Andros in 1580s as colonists asked for English military assistance BUT new towns being established, pop. growth rate 3% per year

Salem Town vs Salem Village - Village where most accusers from, Putnams, wanted separation, prominent family, heavily involved in accusations, village largely agricultural, made up of dedicated Puritans, Salem town more cosmopolitan, Porters, richest family, opposed separation due to business interests BUT could be blamed more on religious + economic factors in Salem Village than role of individual families, families/accusations as simply products of conditions

Fed into religious and political resistance as imposition of what appeared to be economic sanctions upon the colony only drove zealous Puritan fears of outside influence further, leading to the unrest that caused the trials.

Social:

Social/religious - Natives as devil worshippers, fears of natives, Mercy Lewis 8 when parents killed in a native attack, Cotton Mather’s Memorable Providences - Indians described as pagans, allied with Catholic France and Spain, 9 years war part of Second Indian War, frequent attacks and deaths, seen as preventing creation of a godly society BUT pre-exisiting zealotry of Massachusetts Puritanism, Mayflower - 10,000 emigrated between 1630 and 1642 to escape Charles’ + Laud’s policies and punishment of radicals, 1629 Massachusetts Bay colony on Puritan principles, fears of the devil’s presence on earth, preachers critical of magic, first execution in 1647, 100 accused pre Salem, Fears of women, example of Eve, more corruptible, tempted by Devil

Fed into pre-existing religious fear and unrest, sense of a constant threat, worked alongside economic factors to worsen their impact but cannot stand alone as a causal factor in terms of either economy or religion as simply cannot be blamed for religious conditions, though may have worsened them, and also counter evidence to impact of war economically makes it less viable.

Salem Town vs Salem Village - trials driven by village accusations but facilitated by girls, rivalling Putnam and Porter families from town and village, Putnams directly involved in accusations including Ann Putnam befriending Elizabeth Parris and denouncing women as witches

Individuals:

Parris - Sermons before Salem, wicked men in the community, chuch under siege by Devil, connection to Mathers, baptised in their Church in ‘89, decision to prosecute Tituba following the witch cake’s failure, role in her confession, possibly beat her, caused the spread as she confessed to signing the devil’s book, flying through the air on a pole, named other witches

Cotton Mather - Political leader of the community, role in April 1689 revolt against Andros, rebel leader, involved in negotiating the Massachusetts Charter 1691, Religious leader, 400+ books, 3rd gen colonist, family of respected Ministers, went to Harvard, Memorable Providences on Mary Glover, promoted witch hunting in sermons, promoted European view of Covens, encouraging wider accusations, Memorable Providences 1689 as a guide, Sarah Osborn seen to deviate from Puritan values

Phips - Governer, 1688 Revolution - power vacum in Salem, only ended with Phips arrival in May ‘92, had to deal with Indian attacks on Maine frontier, absence allowed trials to flourish, Staughton

Religious:

Cotton Mather - Political leader of the community, role in April 1689 revolt against Andros, rebel leader, involved in negotiating the Massachusetts Charter 1691, Religious leader, 400+ books, 3rd gen colonist, family of respected Ministers, went to Harvard, Memorable Providences on Mary Glover, promoted witch hunting in sermons - lack of separation demonstrates theocratic government structure, supporting religious argument BUT Puritans drove scepticism

Massachusetts Puritanism, outsiders and women - Mary Glover case, Catholic who only spoke Gaelic in a theocratic state, Bridget Bishop’s inn and clothing, Sarah Osborne’s Irish servant and transgression of inheritance rules - Women believed to be more susceptible to the Devil, concentrated zealous environment, lack of diversity - Non-Puritans could be banished, voting based on church membership, 1630-42, emigration of 10,000 Puritans BUT Rebecca Nurse, older well respected member of the community, initially acquitted, wealthy, George Burroughs, Puritan Minister, borrowed from Putnams - more about social disputes

Cotton Mather acting as a vessel for Massachusetts Puritanism, his lack of separation in roles of religious and political support theocracy, religious conditions very important but should be considered alongside economic/social tensions as providing a pretext for these to be realised.

Spread:

Involvement of children

Accused extensive numbers, Mercy Lewis - accused 9, Elizabeth Hubbard, testified against 29, 19 executed, played on Puritan fears of the Devil, fits, possession, Elizabeth Parris hurling a Bible across the room BUT role of Staughton essential in accepting child + spectral evidence, role of Parris essential in actions towards Tituba, opening of O/T court, decision to prosecute, used as pawns for political gains, Ann Putnam’s parents provided names

Legal Authorities

Phips - decision to open O/T court in May 1692 and appoint Staughton as judge, accepted spectral and child evidence, swift prosecutions, court denied testimonies of neighbours of good character, accepted gossip from Salem Village, suspects not allowed defense

Ending:

Legal:

Phips - decision to close the O/T court in October 1692 and order Staughton to not accepted spectral evidence, opened Superior Court of Judicature 25 November 1692 did not allow ‘spectral evidence’ which had been used against most of those previously accused, imposed ban on witchcraft books, social status of accused including wife grew from Tituba London - repealing of Massachusetts law made in December 1692 that enabled swift prosecutions and harsh punishments

Religious:

Increase Mather - Began to question use of evidence, wide audience of godly Puritans, respected family, stated that witches rare and condemned spectral evidence

Social conditions/opinions:

  • Many people stopped hunting for witches owing to the extent of the trials and the loss of friends and family

  • Doubts grew over quality of evidence given in court, particularly over ‘spectral evidence’ which was considered to be not practical enough to prove someone was a witch

  • Witch hunting was not common in New England and the extent of these witch trials was unusual which meant that there were external pressures which helped bring the trials to an end

  • Public confidence in the legality and legitimacy of the trials declined as the numbers of those accused increased.