Final answer:
The accusations of witchcraft in Puritan New England were driven by the belief that witches allied with the Devil to carry out evil deeds. Women were particularly targeted, and the Salem Witch Trials were a notable example of mass accusations and executions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The accusations of witchcraft in Puritan New England were primarily driven by the belief that witches were allied with the Devil to carry out evil deeds and harm others. The Puritans believed that witches were responsible for sickness, death, and other catastrophes. Women, in particular, were targeted as they were seen as more susceptible to the Devil due to their weaker constitutions. The most notorious case of accusations of witchcraft occurred in Salem Village in 1692, where many individuals were accused and executed.