Nothing in history occurs as an isolated event. All time is a continuous cycle of cause and effect, with each decision and event leading to another. Eventually, all the pieces fall into place to form the landscape of time. It is up to historians to study this process and determine exactly what each piece of the puzzle is. From the building of the pyramids to America's war on terror, people can ultimately trace it all back through time. Of course, attempts to discover the exact causes often lead to controversy. This is the case with events such as the Salem Witch Trials, quite possibly one of the most controversial events in all of American history. That doesn't mean it's insoluble. In fact, the answer is much simpler than it seems and can be found in the previous suggestions. The infamous Salem Trials began as a somewhat harmless power play that escalated into something much bigger. Under the influence of religious and social fear, the slightest offense has become a whirlwind of hysteria and illusion. From there, events continued to spiral more and more out of control, claiming one victim after another until they finally lost momentum. This massive hurricane of suspicion and confusion became the tragedy now known as the Salem Witch Trials. As one can imagine, it is essential to look at where it all began. At the time, religious leaders such as Samuel Parris spoke to the people about the immediate dangers of sin and the need for correction. Preachers had begun to place particular emphasis on themes such as "the Devil's hostility toward the Church" and the idea that "Satan would not prevail even if aided by "wicked and reprobate men (the helpers of Satan to afflict the Church)” ( Cockroach 4). Additionally, the Puritans chu...... middle of paper ......lar occurrences. The point of knowing history is to learn from it, and if a culture ignores the warning signs, it is all but doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. The same sequence of cause and effect that so easily and easily led to the Salem witch trials is just as likely to lead to an equally devastating event today. Works Cited Hill, Frances. The Salem Witch Trials Reader. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo, 2000. Print.Latner, Richard B. “The Salem Witchcraft Site.” Salem Witchcraft. Tulane University, nd Web. December 2, 2013. Mappen, Marc. Witches [and] historians: interpretations of Salem. 2nd ed. Malabrar, FL: Krieger, 1996. “Religious Aspects” Print. Religious aspects. Michigan State University, nd Web. December 3, 2013. Roach, Marilynne K. The Salem Witch Trials: A Daily Chronicle of a Community Under Siege. Lanham: Taylor Trade, 2004. Print.