Salem Witch Trials Theories

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The Salem Witch Trials are a well known event in history. There are many theories for why the hysteria occurred. Over time, as we have found more evidence and learned more about their life we have hypothesised new theories. Some of the theories for why such hysteria occurred include, weather affecting the food, the fact that the kids didn’t get to play because of the puritans strict laws, and they didn’t like differences between people. These are just a few of many theories about why delirium occurred.
One reason that some people believe the Salem Witch Trials started was because of their food. The summer right before all the pandemonium began was moist. The moist air causes a fungus to grow in the bread called Ergot. Ergot can produce a hallucinogenic which affects the way you behave. It can cause you to scream and thrash around uncontrollably. Children are especially susceptible to the fungus. Some people believe that this fungus could’ve been what started making the girls go crazy and when the witch idea was in their head they continued with it. If this was all started by a fungus some may wonder why
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Puritans saw toys, dancing, reading anything besides the bible, and playing games as acts of following the devil. When the girls were caught with Tituba playing games of magic and listening to stories they finally caved in and said it was witchcraft. The Puritan’s took everything said in the bible very literally and thought that anything bad that happened was the devil’s actions. They did not only believe them so easily at first because they thought that the little games they were playing was witchcraft, but the people being accused were outsiders, people who were different, or people who didn’t belong. These people were people who might do something different like miss one church service, which brings us to another