So what would have caused these girls to act in this manner? Was it indeed witchcraft? Was it ergot poisoning, as many researchers believe was the case or a mental disorder caused by the stress from the villagers treating the Parris family with disrespect? These are very controversial questions, which researchers have tried to find the answers to for decades. Both the University of Virginia and National Geographic has extensive online research on the Salem Witch Trials. A conclusion of those sites reveals that the trials began by Betty’s breakdown from the tension of the villagers and the mass hysteria spreading to other accusers.
First of all, some have hypothesized in the past that the fits the girls were having could be a result of ergot poisoning from spoiled rye grain. With this being said, the girls could not possibly been having these fits from ergot poisoning only during specific times, such as when supposed “witches” were on trial. For example, during the trial of Rebecca Nurse, whenever Rebecca would move her body in agitated motions, the accusers would also contort their bodies in the same way, crying out in pain every time Rebecca would move (Internet Salem Witch Trials). If they had been poisoned by ergot, they would not be acting in this manner at any given moment.
Next, the Salem Witch Trials were not a result of witchcraft, as the website Salem Witch Trials argues. Betty Parris and her cousin Abigail Williams often experimented with fortune telling (Internet Salem Witch Trials). At one time, while looking into a “venus glass” they saw a specter of a coffin (Salem Witch Trials). The girls often shared the secrets that were portrayed in the glass with other girls in the area, which lead to the witch trials (Salem Witch Trial). So, since the girls were so involved with fortune telling and such, it is not hard to believe that the girls may have been lead to a mass hysteria or panic about witches, even though there really were no witches. Also, many of the accused and convicted witches were church-going elite (Internet National Geographic). For example, Martha Cory was one of the few church-goers that were entitled to take communion (Internet National Geographic). She was hung for witchcraft in March 1692. Another church-goer, Rebecca Nurse at first got off, which terrified the accusers, resulting in a reconsider and conviction (Internet National Geographic). This was definitely not witchcraft when the church goers were being convicted as well, even while proclaiming their love for God.
The Salem Witch Trials were a result of the breakdown of Betty Harris from tension on her family by the villagers and mass hysteria spreading to the other accusers. The Harris family was under much tension from the villagers because they felt that they should not be giving so much money that Reverend Harris demanded from them. This put a lot of strain on her family. I conclude that this stress, along with Betty’s sorcery beliefs lead to her breakdown and the mass hysteria of others. As stated above, not only were the poor accused of witchcraft, but also the church elite, which were the people that were actually going against the Harris family. Betty Harris finally lost it and wanted restitution for all the hurt that was felt by her family. After it started with Betty Harris, it just got out of control with the other accusers and mass hysteria started. People started claiming that they saw specters just to avoid being accused or their families being accused.
In conclusion, though there is not a definite reason as to why the girls began acting in fits, the result of those fits were 25 innocent people’s deaths. These episodes were due to the breakdown of Betty Harris from tension on her family by the villagers and the mass hysteria of witches spreading to others. This has been an on-going debate amongst many researchers and American historians.
