Final answer:
The Salem witch trials spiraled out of control mainly due to mass hysteria and fear within the Puritan community, coupled with the influence of religious leaders who propagated the belief in witchcraft and the Devil's work.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Salem witch trials got out of hand primarily due to mass hysteria and fear, deeply intertwined with the Puritan belief system. Religious conflicts, economic disparities, and social tensions indeed played roles, but it was the fear of the Devil and the frenzy that followed which led to the infamous events of 1692. Historians contend that the Puritans' fear of witchcraft was exacerbated by the trauma of Native wars and rapid sociopolitical changes. Influential figures such as Cotton Mather and Increase Mather contributed to this climate of fear through their writings, which reflected and reinforced the idea that the Devil was actively working within society. The hysteria peaked in Salem Village, where accusations of witchcraft led to the execution of nineteen people and the pressing to death of Giles Corey. The madness only subsided when the accusations reached the higher echelons of society, leading to a reevaluation of the admissibility of spectral evidence and the eventual end of the trials.