New England Way and the Salem Witch Trials?

Question

How did the "New England Way" affect or cause the Salem Witch Trials?

Answer 1

'Decisions' seems to have misunderstood your terminology. The "New England Way" (not "ways") refers to the community/congregational form of church and civil government practiced by these Puritans.

But beyond that, it was NOT specifically Puritan beliefs that led to the Salem witch trials. If that were the case, there would have been many, many more episodes like it. It was, in fact, more of an anomaly. Normally, accusations of witchcraft were NOT thrown around lightly nor accepted easily (and false accusations were considered very serious matters).

Also note that the clergy --esp Increase Mather with his pleas NOT to allow "spectral evidence-- helped to bring the trials to an END. When you add to this the fact that the people's attitude toward witchcraft was much like that of many in their home country and elsewhere in Europe you find that the basis for it all was NOT Puritan convictions.

So, how did th New England Way (congregational system) contribute to the trials? Perhaps one effect was that the relative independence of the communities actually made it harder and take longer for 'outsiders' to the community (like Mather) to be able to correct things when the trials went amok.

The other way this system of government came into play was that there had long been two major groups --the 'country people' and townspeople -- but both were under the SAME government and supposed to be of the same church. This tension/rivalry played a major role in the hostile accusations that began to be thrown about in 1692. (Note again, it was NOT the Puritan religious beliefs but how the governmental structure played out in this awkward, tense situation.)

Check out the following:

"Within Salem Village, a history of bitter factionalism (as well as resentment toward the more prosperous Salem Town, which controlled the village politically and ecclesiastically) may have helped make the witch-hunt in Salem Village the most virulent in New England."
http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/tech/TIC/Salem%20witch%20trials.doc

". . . Salem t. . . was in the midst of change: a mercantile elite was beginning to develop, prominent people were becoming less willing to assume positions as town leaders, two clans (the Putnams and the Porters) were competing for control of the village and its pulpit, and a debate was raging over how independent Salem Village, tied more to the interior agricultural regions, should be from Salem, a center of sea trade."
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SAL_ACCT.HTM

Answer 2

New England was dominated by Puritans who had no tolerance of other faiths or lifestyles that did not conform with their New England ways. When the girls of Salem began spending time with Tituba, a black servant from the Caribbean and who practiced "witchcraft" the parents got a Little bent out of shape. Essentially, they were losing control to their children. To get control back, examples had to be made of Tituba and other women and men (and a dog!) who did not meet the Puritan standard.