by the overwhelming need to control the puritan people. The social structure and male dominance could not be allowed to change. Ministers benefited from witchcraft, it gave them an excuse to put any enemy of the church, meaning anyone with differing views, on trial. This led to the strengthening of the puritan views leaving their society unchanged. Keeping society loyal to the church and the social hierarchy unchanged were the factors leading to the proliferation of witchcraft trials. Bibliography 1)Carol F. Karlsen, The Devil in the shape of a Woman New York: Random House, Inc., 1987 2)David D. Hall, Witch-Hunting in Seventeenth-century New England Boston: North-eastern University Press, 1991 3)Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum, Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1973 4)Reverend Z. A. Mudge, Witch Hill: A History of Salem Witchcraft New York: Carlton and Lanahan, 1870 5)Marion L. Starkey, The Devil in Massachusetts Garden City: Alfred A. Knopf, 1949 6)Cotton Mather, The Wonders of the Invincible World: being an account of the tryals of several witches lately executed in New England: and of several remarkable curiosities therein occurring New York: Random House, Inc. 1987 7)Elliot, Charles W. Mysteries of Glimpses of the Supernatural New York: Harper and Brothers, 1852. 8)Phillips, Jan The Craft of the Wise Ms. January/February 1993: 78-79 ...
