Salem Possessed. Paul Boyer, and Stephen Nissenbaum. 1974

Boyer and Nissenbaum examine the Salem Witch Trials episode of the 1690s from the standpoint of social history. The authors recognize the fact that the town had been divided into two factions. The first represented the farming interests of Salem Village while the other was the growing commercial economy of Salem Town. Most of the accusers came from the agrarian Salem Village and the accused from Salem town. The tension between the factions stemmed initially from a disagreement over the appointment of the new minister, Samuel Parris. Those making the accusations were of the Pro-Parris faction while those who were skeptical of the trial's proceedings were primarily from the anti-Parris group in Salem Town. Socio0-economic considerations may have also contributed to this division as the accusers tended to be on the lower end of the socio-economic ladder and the accused the upper end. It seems as if some jealousy may have been a motive behind the accusations.