Final answer:
The increase in witch trials and executions in the late 1500s was influenced by Puritan beliefs in the supernatural, societal tension, traumatic events like Native wars, and political changes. Women were primarily accused due to gender biases, and prominent figures like Cotton Mather reinforced the belief in witches as societal scapegoats. The hysteria ended with growing skepticism and political transitions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The late 1500s saw an increased number of witch trials and executions primarily due to widespread belief in the supernatural, where every calamity was seen as divine judgment or mercy. Puritan New England was especially affected, with even minor oddities in behavior or appearance leading to accusations, and women were disproportionately targeted. Several factors contributed to the rise in witchcraft allegations, including trauma from Native wars, political and cultural changes, mass hysteria linked to social tensions from poor weather and famine, and scapegoating during times of hardship.
Authority figures, like Cotton Mather, played a role in promoting the belief in witchcraft and the devil's influence in society. This scapegoating was, in part, a way for Puritans to grapple with challenges without examining their societal structures too closely. The decline of the witch hunts coincided with the end of the Puritan commonwealth and a shift in attitudes among influential figures towards skepticism of 'spectral evidence.'