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Essay / Changing Social Structure as the Root Cause of the Salem Witch Trial Hysteria of 1692
Scattered throughout human history are some episodes of inexplicable extremism. In some cases it is strongly linked to the culture of a society, but in others it is simply the fruit of a seed planted by something or someone more important, i.e. -say someone who has power or influence. One case worth highlighting is that of the town of Salem in 1692, where dozens of residents, mostly women, were executed due to the belief in witchcraft and related arts in which the people believed. people in power. While there are various primary sources from the period, many of them are somewhat biased or distorted in ways that are considered inaccurate, or at the very least misleading. Due to the lack of objective information, historians debate the absolute reason why people went crazy. Yet the majority of evidence shows that the root cause of the hysteria was the change in social structure that occurred during the same period. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an original essayIn the early days, Salem was one of many New England towns that ran Puritan churches with a form of democracy charged with determining who was elected officials, appointed schoolmasters, and discussions on other boring topics. Yet these settlements began to change as the city's population grew. Many new settlers would find themselves converted to the Puritan belief system, where they were the “chosen” children of God. This growth led to a considerable increase in church membership. Many of them did not believe in the core values or ideals of the early settlers, quickly creating a distinction between the “chosen ones” and the rest. This distinction is important because it is the first time the spiritual purity of the religion has been diluted, leading many to believe that God's will was being challenged. This disregard for God's word creates hatred toward community members, many of whom are waiting for the right moment to release their resentment. In addition to the increase in population, Salem faced a societal crisis regarding the morals of the community. The growth of the community created a division between those who lived in the town of Salem and those who lived in Salem Village. Although there is a distinction due to economies, the real debate was not over which economy was better, but rather over which lifestyle was accepted. This separation is evident when looking at any accused card, as many "witches" are far removed from those who accuse them. As moral disagreement grew in Salem Village, each side began to bring their homes closer to those who agreed with their respective views. Based on this unification of views, village citizens began to isolate themselves into tighter communities. Ensure that at the end of the trials, much of the previously owned land will be abandoned or unclaimed. This internal schism made it impossible for anyone to remain a neutral party, as simply living on one side or the other caused your morality to be questioned. Another societal factor that contributed to Salem's mass hysteria was the predominant role that women began to play. play in communities. Even though Puritan society granted women rights that were not afforded to them elsewhere, they were nonetheless treated harshly..