their social status. One group especially singled out for witchcraft were the mercantile group. Mercantile capitalism was even called witchcraft. These people were thriving freeloaders, prosperous landlords, and prosperous merchants. Their prosperity caused a power struggle between the traditional farmers and themselves. The witchcraft trials were used by the farming community as a method of restoring order among the social groups. If someone became prosperous, the farmers would accuse the prosperous individual of witchcraft so that this person couldn’t rise in the social class. The trials were used to maintain the social order of the farmers and to prevent the merchants from rising socially. They were a means of expressing the farmers’ frustrations and a means to control the upward mobility of the successful merchants. The social tensions between the merchants and the farmers was a reason for the witchcraft trials. Social tensions also led to Bridget Bishop being called a witch. For example, Bridget Bishop defied public opinion by wearing scarlet and not the somber clothes worn by the puritan community. The reverend mudge states in the book Witch Hill: A History of Salem Witchcraft states, "She, after this, defied public opinion, by her dress and conduct, more freely than ever." This lack of a strict adherence to the Puritan philosophy led to Bridget being put on trial as a witch. Puritans did not believe in raising their social level or expressing different ideas. Any transgression led to social tension. Witchcraft was a crime that was punishable by imprisonment and/ or death. The authorities used the trials to repress the people by instilling fear in them. Thus, the people were deterred from straying from puritan doctrine and the church remained the dominant force in the community. Religious intolerance was also a key reason for the trials in Salem. The trials even helped the religious figures in the puritan community. D...
