King James II's rise to power in the 1680s became an extremely turbulent time for all under his reign. This was primary due to Catholic versus Protestant relations. Unlike his brother Charles II, James II openly professed his Catholic beliefs and granted religious freedom to all. Aside from religious toleration, his appointing of Catholics to high government posts enraged the Protestant colonialists even more. One individual was Governor Andros. He wrongfully imposed taxes, took way self-governing systems, ended jury trials, and oppressed Puritan beliefs.

Peter Hoffer gives the reader an account of the Salem witch trials through the story of the Barbadian minister Parris, his daughter Betty, and his slav

It provides the reader with an extensive background of all major characters before they lived in Salem Town. This helps the reader set apart Parris and his family and take a look at the rest of the Puritan village as a whole. Through this book I have changed my opinion of many early American settlers. The Puritans ruthlessness and hypocrisy can be read in

The Devil's Disciples. The book doesn't try to force negative ideas into the reader's head, only the facts.

Although no one ever saw a real witch gathering, this superstition was a mainstream belief. No one, especially "outsider" women, were safe from accusations of witchery. Even the minister's slave Tituba was accused after she used "witchcakes" to help heal Betty's bizarre ailments. The villagers first accepted her African white magic until Betty grew wor

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Approximate Word count = 551
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)