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In order to have a full understanding of why these people were persecuted, one must have into consideration the period of time. The region was mainly composed of religious refugees who did not separate the church from the state. This led to bringing with them the fear of witches. The idea of hunting women was spread out to the New England of America primarily through the use of a pamphlet created by Cotton Mather a puritan minister. He believed that witches were “among the poor, and vile, and ragged beggars upon Earth” (Schiff 8). Now, one gets to see how the seed of doubt is being planted in people’s heads. What is a witch? Can any of the neighbors be a witch? By now, these are the important questions people might have introspectively asked themselves.
This witch hunt started when Betty Parris (daughter) and Abigail Williams (niece) of the local puritan minister in Salem Samuel Parris began to experience strange symptoms of “enchantment.” Something unnatural and beyond the realm of science. They were diagnosed with bewitchment which was an actual diagnosis in the 17th century. When a certain phenomenon was inexplicable; generally, the involvement of magic and the dark lord was present in the matter. Suddenly, more and more girls started to show the same symptoms. The use of psychology to persuade and to manipulate others was key to propagate their message of witches in Salem. Minister Parris is depicted as a strong-headed individual with a double intention to achieve more power and use it in its own benefit. What a coincidence that the first cases of this so-called “enchantment” began with two of Parris relatives?
Outcasts, rejects of society and the poor were the ones that were accused of witchcraft. People without a good status in society such as Tituba, the minister’s slave, Sarah Good, a beggar, and Sarah Osborne, a widower. One may start drawing conclusions from this pattern of victims.
After a dense investigation of the occurrences during 1692, one can set in motion the propaganda campaign. Propagandist(s) used a combination of white and black propaganda against the accused. The displacement of aggression by specifying the target for hatred. Even though it postdates the Trials, Goebbels’ Principals of Propaganda are the perfect example of a methodological propaganda campaign against a specific group. The intention to create doubt, depression, and disquiet among the public. Many methods were used to implement mass hysteria throughout the little town of Salem. In addition, the use of different propaganda techniques was imperative for the trials in order to be effective. The following techniques were the ones used during the Salem Witch Trials; name-calling, transfer, card stacking, and bandwagon.
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