Restate & Answer, The Salem Witch Trials hysteria was caused by deep fear of the Devil, long-standing family arguments, and extreme weather hardships., Cite Evidence, In his sworn statement, Joseph Putnam testified that the Putnam and Porter families had been fighting for years over land, taxes, and church choices., According to historical records, minister Cotton Mather wrote that over 21 people confessed to signing the Devil's book., Researcher Linnda Caporael noted that a freezing winter followed by a wet spring caused a toxic fungus called ergot to grow on the rye grain eaten by villagers., Explain the Evidence, This quote shows that Puritans truly believed Satan was working inside their town, which made neighbors terrified and suspicious of each other., When crops failed and life became miserable, desperate people looked for scapegoats and blamed magic instead of bad weather., This evidence proves that villagers used witchcraft accusations as a tool to get revenge on their personal and financial rivals., Sum It Up, In conclusion, a mixture of strict religion, personal rivalries, and environmental stress drove the people of Salem to turn on one another in 1692.

SWT: RACES Practice

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