The Salem Witch Trials took place in Salem.
men and women were put to death for practicing.
witchcraft, and afflicting innocent Christian.
Puritans.
Now before I get into how and why people.
were accused of witchcraft, I think it is.
important to know something about the people.
that lived in Salem Village.
The Group was known as the Puritans. .
The puritans split from the church of England in.
1663. When William Laud became the new.
Archbishop of Canterbury, the new beliefs he.
brought were unacceptable to those members.
who sought to "purify" the Church. These new.
beliefs included emphasis on individual.
acceptance or rejection of God's grace,.
Toleration for a variety or religious beliefs, and.
the incorporation of "High Church" Symbols. .
The puritans wished to rid their religion of all.
Catholic influence. .
In the early 1600's, groups of Puritans began.
leaving Europe to travel to the American.
colonies. The main goal of these immigrants.
was to form a religious community in which.
their "pure" ideas would be central. The radical.
beliefs of the puritans flourished in the New.
World. By keeping a strong connection between.
Church & State, the Puritans were able to.
control most of the colonies activity until the.
end of the 17th century. .
The Puritans held 5 basic beliefs:.
1- Total Depravity: By virtue of the original sin.
of Adam, when one is born he has no right to.
Salvation. .
2- Unconditional Election: Some are chosen for.
salvation, some are not. There is nothing one.
can do to change his status.
3- Limited Atonement: The extent to which one.
can please God with acts is limited. .
4- Irresistible Grace: God showers one with a.
quality of grace, and one cannot resist it.
5- Perseverance: Once one has been saved,.
nothing he does will change that fact. .
These central beliefs, along with an extreme.
emphasis on preaching, & the laws contained.
within the Bible itself formed the strict ideals of .
American Puritanism. .
Now back to Salem Village where these people.
