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Salem Witch Trials

Some people say that the Salem Witch Trials were less a religious persecution than economic in purpose, using religion as a guise to gain property. I believe that the Salem witch trials were less a religious persecution than economical. I believe this for several reasons; one being that the accused witches were using their witchcraft on other people in the town and it was affecting them. Many people were accused of performing witchcraft and were persecuted for doing so. But I believe that people in towns accused others of "witchcraft" whenever something went wrong, because "witchcraft" was such a common thing back than. When the witches that were accused of this so called witchcraft, usually the rest of their family, if they had one, would have to sell their house and this gave the people in the town more land and gave other people outside of the town to move into the town. Since there were two distinct parts to Salem, it is believed that the rich people of Salem accused the poorer people so they could take over their land.
Salem did have two distinct parts: Salem Town and Salem Village. Salem was actually part of Salem Town but was set apart by its economy, class, and character. Residents of Salem Village were mostly poor farmers who made their living cultivating crops. But Salem Town was a wealthy town where the center of trade took place. Most of those living in Salem Town were wealthy merchants. For many years, Salem Village tried to gain independence from Salem Town. Salem Village did not have its own church and minister until 1674. But there was also a division within Salem Village. Those who lived near Ipswich Road, close to the trade of Salem Town, became merchants. They prospered and supported the economic changes taking place. But many of the farmers who lived far from this richness believed the worldliness and wealth of Salem Town threatened their Puritan values. Tensions became worse when Salem Village selected Reverend Samuel Parris as their new...