What were the effects of the Salem Witch Trials on American society?American society in general.

From a theoretical or intellectual historian's point of
view, Salem shows the danger of homogeneous social setting committed to a singular
notion of the good.  The impact of Salem might have been negligent in terms of pure
history.  Yet, in tracing the development of American consciousness and how one
understands what it means to be "American," Salem plays a significant function.  The
notion of a social and political climate dominated by fear and silence, as opposed to
vocal advocacy and the spirit of dissent can only lead to bad things.  America,
consciously or not, used the moment of Salem to define itself as standing against these
values.  When America has reverted back to Salem form, "bad things" have not been far
off the pace, and a corrective measure has taken place afterwards to ensure that a
spirit of free discourse, heterogeneity, and individual dissent remains as part of the
blueprint of American identity.