Why did people accuse others of witchcraft?

Answer 1

People would find tools that looked like they were used in witchcraft, and those who didn't believe in it or were against it, 'ratted' them out and they went to jail or prison. This is true because I looked it up. :]

Answer 2

i was told that witchcraft was thought of because of wheather changing. For example, when the colonists came they saw that some months it was great for cropping and could harvest a lot of plants, but later on it got cold, winter, and they could not grow anything. This made the believe that witches were doing this for them to leave or die. They still weren't aware of seasons, like summer, fall, winter, and spring.

Answer 3

The most famous accusations of witchcraft were the Salem witch trials. A group of bored little young girls were innocently talking when a foreign women started whispering stories to them, if they promised not to tell anyone. However, these little girls started to be afraid of these stories and would often burst into hysteria, stare at things only they could see and shout blasphemy. Nobody knew what was happening to them but then one by one each little girl started to raise a finger and point towards a person they didn't like. They would whisper witch and then the whole town went into an uproar. Though not as many as you would have thought a first were killed, those who were were hung and some pressed to death while being tortured of answers.

Answer 4

Anyone that didn't act a certain way or challenged ideas were considered heretics and a threat against the church and were then tortured and killed. Many other people were victims of these tortures because of people telling authorities that person was a witch or they were a victim of a person using witchcraft on them and their crops or livestock.

Answer 5

1. they may have knowlegde about herbs (therefore suggesting they use this knowlegde to use potions)

2.they were the children of the suspected

3.forgein people or people that were outside of known society such as homeless, those who accept the slaves as equals, and those who have poor literacy etc.

4.some were simply accused just because someone didnt like them, or due to disputes such as land ownage

5.people used accusations of witchcraft if they wanted to kill someone but didnt want to get hung for murder, it was just an easier option.

Answer 6

They were accused of using witchcraft for doing something that seems magic-like

Answer 7

Some people got accused of witch craft, because they either disliked them or had something against the person.