It’s no longer law that regulate and protect the people but religion. The law is now less substantial than religion at this point. This is what caused the hysteria. The strict enforcement and the fear of the threat of divine retribution. This setting is what justified the hysteria and the heinous acts that are to come. To add more tension to the situation the puritans in two ways. It was either black or white. The lack of understanding and reasoning contributed to the hysteria greatly. Also the they were surrounded by native americans and the ravages of nature to add to the stress and hysteria. Their whole lives were regulated that isolated them from understanding what was going on in the situation which could of been avoided. Even, the simplest acts of innocence like calling a pet by name or humming might be looked upon as peculiar, even questionable, conduct. It was even worse for the minority affected the most from this tragedy. Women were affected the most because the puritans embraced the european heritage of subjugating women to the desires of men. The puritans were misogynists therefore this further justified the