Final answer:
The role of ergotism in the Witch trials was supported by evidence such as the confession of Tituba, the non-conformity of the accused, and the detailed testimonies of the girls.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of ergotism in the Witch trials was supported by various pieces of evidence:
- The girls who exhibited the symptoms of bewitchment, such as fits, claimed to have been afflicted by specific individuals. One of these individuals, Tituba, confessed to being involved in occult practices, which gave credibility to the idea of witchcraft.
- Non-conformity to Puritan society's norms, such as not attending church services, was seen as suspicious. Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne, who were accused and later executed, were both considered outsiders due to their behaviors.
- The testimony of the girls and their detailed descriptions of seeing accused witches engaging in supernatural activities, such as riding broomsticks and transforming into animals, further supported the belief in witchcraft.