The Salem Witch Trials The domination of religion along with mass hysteria culminated in the conviction of over 200 men and women during the witch trials of 1692. Salem, Massachusetts endured a gothic nightmare of fear that sent twenty poor souls to meet their master, in Heaven or Hell (Robbins 56). New England in the 17th century was composed of communities of fanatically rigid Calvinists. The unknown was categorized as evil and the Devil’s power was thought to be as strong as God’s. Massachusetts Bay settlers were mainly Puritans who considered the Devil, in particular, their personal enemy; since their religion was the true one Satan was