Question

Explain the economic and political causes underlying the salem witch trials.

Answer 1

Many Salem village farming families believed that Salem town’s thriving economy made it too individualistic. The Putnam being the large farming family and leaders of the separatist group did not much this individualism for it opposed their communal nature. This led to disagreements between Putnam and residents thus the residents withholding of local taxes leading to low pay of the minister’s salary and firewood.