Final answer:
Historian George Burr notes that the long-term effect of the Salem witch trials was a desire for greater separation between church and civil law, leading to socio-religious reflection in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. option C is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to historian George Burr, the long-term effect of the Salem witch trials was that people wanted greater separation between the church and civil law.
The mass hysteria of the witchcraft 'scare' that engulfed Massachusetts Bay Colony, including accusations against well-connected individuals and the involvement of the educated elite of Boston, led to a critical examination of the role of religion in governance. The end of the trials coincided with the decline of the Puritan 'city on a hill' and reflected the deeply intertwined nature of religious and civil authority, prompting a reevaluation of their relationship.
The aftermath of the trials saw a shift in public opinion, and later, the Massachusetts courts annulled the convictions and granted indemnity to the victims and their families, underscoring the societal reconsideration of the earlier proceedings. The witch trials underscored the dangers of religious extremism and the miscarriage of justice when spectral evidence, fuelled by fear and superstition, could lead to the execution of innocents.