During the Puritan era witch trials, such as those in Andover and Salem, were believed to have been authentic persecutions of witches and followers of Lucifer, but through studies and research done by the Salem Witch Trials Tercentenary there is proof that these indictments were brought about and believed for other reasons. Because many of the beliefs of Puritans are based on skepticism and empiricism they easily believed that many of their friends and neighbors were involved in witchcraft.

Following the limited harvest came a fierce winter, sick animals, and jealous neighbors, along with the constant threat of Indian raids. Puritans believed everything was a sign from God, and it is obvious that from the circumstances in Salem they felt that God was displeased with them.

From this society filled with distress, anxiety, and guilt came twelve girls that cured their boredom by adding the first spark. Through their kitchen meetings in the house of Rev. Samuel Parris, the father of nine year old Betty, the girls found that some Barbados black magic, taught by Tituba, could be quite entertaining.

On January 20th, Betty started to make odd sounds and strange poses to her forbidding father; she was probably split between fear of damnation and her loyally to the older girls that allowed her to join them in the secret meetings. She and her friends were impressed with how much attention she got from the adults. Soon all of the girls came down with this mysterious illness that was later diagnosed by Dr. Griggs. The doctor believed ailment was caused by the fact that the girls were bewitched--which, to the Puritans gave an explanation to why life had been so rough during the last few months.

It was now time for the girls to start pointing fingers. The trials began on May 27th with hypothetical evidence of a spirit that would take different forms and visit the townspeople through their dreams. “Substantiated” accusations through spectral evidence was what many Puritans used to win feuds, confront jealousies, get property from the condemned, and strike down independent women.

It is remarkably apparent that there was a deeper cause to the Salem witch trials other than the popularly know “dressed-up” story. Sociologists say that witch hunts, no matter when or where, occur in the climate of anxiety.

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