Witch Craft in New England- Causes
In the early seventeenth century, New England was one of the first colonial developments in North America. As the century went on, more and more people began to immigrate there and settle in that region. Colonies such as Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut were established in this time period. Throughout the century, the colonies had their problems and successes in creating New England. Relationships with Indians, crop management, food, shelter, trade, the weather: all of these factored in the growth of the colonies. In the latter part of the century, a dark cloud formed over Massachusetts and the people who lived in it. Hundreds of women in the 1680's and 90's were persecuted, tried and killed for being witches. They were obviously wrongfully accused and held in ridiculous trials until possibly proven "guilty" of witchcraft. Historians have many different beliefs on what caused this uproar in New England Society. Some causes for these "witch hunts" were -name causes n articles they are from-. These causes all take different shapes and forms. Though they are different, they have distinct relations to one another and their affect on the colony
With this, instead of placing blame on pure misfortune or personal lack of faith, the colonists urn to accusation of witchcraft of colonists who display distinct characteristics to that of a witch. It was perceived that these assaults by "Satan's minions were none other than the ones by the Indians who were perceived as evil and maniacal by the colonists. With all this turmoil in a span of less than twenty-five years, the colonists of Puritan New England began to question what may have been causing this. Though the fall of James II enabled to colonies to overthrow these governors in a bloodless coup, King Louis XIV of France declared war on England and its colonies with the rise of William and Mary. There have been many different possible reasons for the causes of the witch crisis in the late seventeenth century. Unfortunately, these answers pointed to the use of witchcraft throughout the colony. Following this, he dominion of New England came o power and the colonists who had worked so hard to establish to colony had all rights o power taken away from them by Royal Governors. He describes how after three quarters of a century of peace and little problems, the colonies of New England ran into many in the year 1675 and beyond. These causes have no solid foundation in enabling the people of the colonies to accuse other colonists of witchcraft and relations with the devil. This war provoked more bloodshed in the colonies through Indian attacks started by the French. ConclusionThere are numerous causes for the witch crisis's of the late seventeenth century, and their affect on the colonies of New England echo throughout the history of the country. These proceedings "touched a raw nerve exposed and sensitized by the ordeals of the last decade" (Godbeer, 203) and instigated the witch hunt that spread throughout the colony in 1692. It was a horrible time period, and many innocent people's lives were ruined because of it.
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