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The Puritans of Massachusetts believed witchcraft to be a felony. And the English punishment for felony was death by hanging. On the Continent of Europe, witchcraft was heresy and punished with death by burning.

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13y ago
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13y ago

because people wanted someone to blame for all the misery in their lives at that point in history. The church of the American towns also wanted to be seen doing something heroic to gain them power and respect from the people at that time that did not know what the new hierarchy would be. The strong old recuses that shied away from the new civilization were dealt with by the priests in one way or another. the old wise women of the village were also accused so no power would rival the church reprisentative of that time.

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13y ago

On the European Continent, which was mostly Catholic, witchcraft was heresy and the punishment for heresy was burning.

In England and its colonies, that were Protestant, witchcraft was a felony and a felony was punished by hanging.

Drowning was not an execution method. It was a way to test if a person was a witch, if you sank and drowned, you weren't a witch. If, despite your limbs being tied to stones, you didn't drown, the devil was holding you up and you were a witch. You would then be burned.

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11y ago

They were executed for refusing to confess to their practice of witchcraft.

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Q: Why were witches killed in the Salem witch trials?
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Related questions

How many witches were killed by hanging as a result of the Salem witch trials?

Nineteen.


When did the Salem witches trial end?

The last of the Salem Witch trials ended in may 1693


Who kill the witches in the Salem witch trials?

Bridget Bishop


How many witches are in the world?

As far as scientist know, 0. The Salem Witch Trials, however, was a time when people were accused of being witches and were killed.


How was witchcraft practiced during the Salem witch trials?

There were no actual, practicing witches invovled, accused or otherwise existing in Salem during the witch trials.


How are the Salem witch trials and maccarthyism different?

The Salem Witch Trials were done for religious purposes. (witches- people who work with Satan) McCarthyism was done for political purposes. (communists)


Increase Mather led the call to end what?

The Salem witch trials. Increase Mather was too smart and political knowlegdable to believe that there were witches.


Where did the book time of the witches take place?

The book "Time of the Witches" takes place in early colonial America, particularly in the town of Salem, Massachusetts, during the Salem Witch Trials in the late 17th century.


Is wrong doing really witchery in the Salem witch trials?

There were no actual witches in Salem during the trials. Witchcraft was seem as wrong because they thought it was the work of the devil. They thought witches killed crops, sunk ships and murdered people. That's what "witch" meant to the people in Salem. Now, it refers to Wiccans, pagans and the like. Hope that helps. Your question was very hard to understand.


What was the Salem witch trials in America about?

they where basically people accusing other people of being witches


How many people from Ipswich were condemned as witches?

in "the Salem witch trials" over 100 people were accused of being a witch.


Why was Mary Worth killed?

Because she was involved with the Salem witch trials.