Salem - social, economic, and political issues Flashcards
(14 cards)
what are the three main factors responsible for the Salem witch-hunt?
- weakened authority following 1688 Revolution
- Indian threats and economic crisis
- social tensions
weakened authority
how did Sir Edmund Andros cause revolt of 1689?
resented by people of Massachusets
* unwillingness to include well-established local Puritans on his council
* attempted to fulfill Charles’ wish for Church of England services delivered in Puritan churches. Puritans in Massachusetts suspected him of Catholic sympathies
* imposed taxes where there had previously been no tax laws
weakened authority
why did the Glorious Revolution in England cause problems in New England?
people revolted against Andros, led by Increase and Cotton Mather. The rebels declared themselves supporters of William of Orange and Andros was captured and taken into custody
William feared Massachusetts would fall into another religious rule, so enforced policies such as officials being appointed by the Crown rather than being elected
weakened authority
what was the impact of the removal of Andros?
lack of legal authority meant problems in the community couldn’t be settled as easily
when problems occurred, the majority-Puritan population saw the Devil to be at work
altogether caused weakened authority and made a witch-hunt more likely
Indian threat
what Indian threats did Massachusetts face?
intensified towards the end of the 17th century
* 1675-78: King Philip’s War
* people in Salem wary due to constant threat of attack
Salem trials coincided with King William’s War, also referred to as the second Indian War
Indian threats
how did Puritans perceive Indians?
devil-worshippers who were tryin to prevent a godly society from being created
Indian threats
what role did Indian threats play in causing the witch craze?
crated a deep-seated paranoia about God’s willingness to allow the Devil’s agents in the form of the Indians to punish Puritan settlers
Indian threats
how are Indian threats linked to economic crisis?
the First Indian War (1675-78) left Massachusett’s economy ruined
economic crisis
what economic problems did Massachusetts face?
1651: the first Navigation Act was passed by English parliament
* then modified in 1660, ‘62, and ‘73
* effectively reduced the amount of money and resources that flowed into Massachusetts
social tensions
what is a theocracy?
a system of government in which God is held to be supreme ruler
social tensions
what impact did the theocratic government have on society in Salem?
- religion was at the heart of everyday life - Puritans concerned with seeking signs of God’s approval and the presence of the Devil at all times
- Puritan authorities in Massachusetts largely ignored the Scientific Revolution, choosing instead to interpret misfortune as the work of the Devil
- people who didn’t conform to Puritan ideals were viewed with suspicion
social tensions
how did religion impact women?
majority of the accused were women
* Salem Puritans believed they were inferior to men due to Eve in the Bible
social tensions
what were the differences between Salem Town and Salem Village?
- Salem Village was largely agricultural, made up of well-established Puritans, and was where most accusers came from
- Salem Town had more contact with outside world, less reliant on agriculture, and less driven by religious belief
social tensions
why was there tension between Salem Town and Salem Village?
- residents of the Village tried to gain independence from the Town, but authorities in the Town refused due to their use of the village’s agriculture
- different visions of how communities should be run. Village concerned with public goodwill while the Town were concerned with private interests
- family conflict between Putnams (Village), heavily involved in accusations, and the Porters (Town), the richest family in Salem
