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When the Europeans set sail to America they were expecting a life better than they left

behind. In the colonies, tension was growing. Two events that clearly show these tensions are the

Salem Witchcraft trials in 1692 and the Stono Rebellion in 1793. These tensions grew from

unsettled things in the colonies. Socially, slaves were bottom the class pyramid and were treated

bad and this caused them to revolt. In Salem, Massachusetts the imagination and communication

played a huge role in witchcraft trials. The talk of the devil and witches grew and soon any thing

that is abnormal or seen as not common was seen as a characteristic of the devil or a witch.

Politically, strange and harsh laws were made in the colonies. Slavery was seen as white man’s

burden and how Africans were uncivilized and those coming to their plantations and working for

them will make them civilized. In Salem, Massachusetts strange laws were made when the

hunting of “witches” began. They believed moles were signs of witches’ mark and those who

were thought to be a witch was hung and killed. Thus, the Salem witchcraft trials and the Stono

rebellion both politically and socially reflected tensions in colonial society.

Socially, the class divisions played a huge role in the tensions in colonial society. Slaves

were being treated as property and not as living things and these African Americans did not like

it. So In South Carolina, a group of slaves (about 20) gathered by the Stono River and revolted.

These slaves raided firearms shop and killed 20 whites colonists while marching south towards

St. Augustine, Florida where land was available to any fugitive by the Spanish. The colonist

recovered and chased down the slaves and killed most of them while other scattered. This

uprising planted seeds of fear in the slave owners as well as the government. After the rebellion,

the government past harsh acts to further limit the slaves’ rights and privileges. In Salem,

Massachusetts group of adolescent girls claimed to have been bewitched by certain older women.

The superstitions of age and the unsettle conditions regarding socially and religiously. During the
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witch hunt anything that the colonist considered unusual and weird were used against someone.

As respected and powerful officials, high on the social ladder, were suspected of witchcraft, the

doubts began to pile up. During the witch hunt nineteen people and two dogs were hanged. This

event reflected the tensions that were in Salem about religion and the unknown. Although,

socially the class differences played a role in the tension in the colonial society, politically, the

unjust laws and unfair justice played a role in the tensions in the society.

Furthermore, politically, trials were not fair and laws were unjust which led to the

increase of tensions in the colonial society. A British political writer states that, “Slavery is a

weed that grows on ever soil”. Slavery was common in the south since the weather conditions

were malicious and infectious and the Africans could survive these conditions. Europeans traded

rum for Africans in the coast and these Africans were sent sail to the America were they were

used as property and objects. The Stono rebellion reflected tensions in the colonial society

because government officials feared the slaves uniting together and revolting so they past harsh

laws that would further limit their rights. After the rebellion the government no longer allowed

slaves to grow their own food, assemble in groups and become educated. In Salem, officials

allowed for witches to be persecuted and these officials would examine a person physically to

see anything unusual or any actions that a person does that is not common. These misunderstood

actions and physical appearance was used against a person.

The Stono Rebellion and the Salem witchcraft trials were events that helped increase lots

of tensions in the colonial society. They became one of the stepping stones towards modern

times. Socially, the Stono Rebellion signified the inequality the slaves faced and for them to

rebel drew tensions in colonies. Slave owners were cautious and feared the uniting of all the

slaves and revolting. In Salem, the boredom of teenagers due to the lack of fun activities such as
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sports or technology may have played a role in the Salem Witchcraft trials since teenagers read

the bible a lot. Politically, the unjust laws and injustice in the colonies were evident and

increased tensions. Slaves were treated unfairly and forced to work on the fields. On the other

hand, in Salem, anything uncommon one does will be used against that person. Thus, the Stono

Rebellion and the Salem witchcraft trials did reflected tensions in the colonies both politically

and socially.