The New World Times

Currently, a war rages between France and the Grand Alliance that is consuming the world.

    The war, known in Europe as the War of the Grand Alliance began in October 1688 when King Louis XIV of France marched his army into the Rhineland-Palatinate area. The Grand Alliance, formed to stop Louis’ territorial ambitions, is trying to contain an aggressive France. The Grand Alliance consists of England, the Holy Roman Empire, Sweden, Spain, the Dutch Republic, Brandenburg, Saxony, Bavaria, and the Palatinate. Louis of France has a hunger and thirst for more power, control, and territory. As an absolute monarch, King Louis has complete power and dominance in the state. Louis controls the nobility strictly and has established a parliament that only has a judicial role. The ideas of absolute monarchy are spreading to many other European states. By waging destructive wars on other European states, Louis is hoping to establish France as a leading and influential country. To do so, Louis is spreading his influence in Germany with a menacing war. In 1688, while the Holy Roman Empire, lead by Leopold I was in the east fighting the Ottomans, Louis planned a short invasion of the Rhineland-Palatinate area. King Louis is invading Germany with the promise that King James II of England will give support. However a revolution in England is stirring up some problems for King Louis.

The English Throne

    In 1685, after the death of the childless Charles II, the Catholic James II became King of England. The ascension of a Catholic King startled the Protestant British people. James promoted Catholics to positions of high office and the army; the promotions led to increasing Catholic power. When the English protested, James would use the divine right of kings, the right to rule from God, to silence the protesters. Soon however, Parliament secretly offered the royal crown to the Protestant Mary, the daughter of James, and Mary’s husband, William of Orange. Mary and William both accepted the mighty royal crown. On November 5, 1688, William arrived in England with a Dutch fleet and army. James quickly fled to France where he would receive support from Louis. Six months after the revolution, William and Mary were crowned as King and Queen of England by Parliament.

A Bill Creates Great Reform

    Soon after the establishment of William and Mary as monarchs, Parliament passed the Bill of Rights. This bill is causing great reform in the government and control of power in England. The bill forbids Catholics on the throne and monarchs cannot stop laws and impose taxes. Most importantly, the bill requires frequent elections and parliaments. This is a drastic change to government in Europe. The people decide what laws are passed and who will be in public office. The Bill of Rights greatly tips the scale of power in favor of the people. Instead of power struggles between subjects and king, now the people have control in government. The power of the monarchy is reduced in England so the queen and king are leaders of the state, but must hold frequent elections and laws. England is opening a totally new chapter to government that no one has ever seen before. This way of government is new to Europe and is shocking people in other countries. The kings of Europe are worried that the new concept of government is very pervasive. King Louis of France is especially astounded by England’s reform.

King Louis’ Fear

     King Louis is scared of losing his absolute power and does want people to rule. Louis is worried of a government with more freedom for individuals, which means diminishing his power as king. Besides government, King Louis is losing a powerful English ally because of the English revolution. Instead of a docile England, Louis now has to face a menacing England and Dutch Republic, William’s homeland. In order to stop the spreading of the idea of more freedom for people in Europe, Louis threateningly declares war against England and the Grand Alliance.

Battles of the War of the Grand Alliance

     The War of the Grand Alliance which started with King Louis’ act of aggression in 1688, is enveloping into a major worldwide war. France and the Grand Alliance are fighting many land battles centered in Holland and the Rhineland area. King William III of England is leading the Grand Alliance’s forces in most of the battles. The two sides have many sieges, which makes this war very slow, dragging, and tiresome. The big battles at Fleurus, Steenkerke, and Neerwinden are all French victories. Even though the French won land battles, the French fleet has suffered drastic losses at the disastrous battle of La Hogue against the Anglo-Dutch fleet. Besides the battles in Europe, the war is spreading to other parts of the world. Battles between the French and English are erupting in India, the fleets of Holland and Brandenburg are fighting the French off the Guinea Coast of Africa. War is also spreading to the French and English colonies in North America. Both the English and French colonists with their Native American allies have ravaged, raided, and terrorized colonial towns. The war in America is known as King William’s War.

King William’s War in Salem

     King William’s War is causing many New England settlements to be raided by Indians. These raids have affected the fur-trading, fishing, and lumber industries of New England. As a result, many merchants in Salem and Boston are seeing a decline of profits from the settlements.  The aggressors of the war, the Indians are associated as witches. Thus, colonists think witches are attacking settlements and that people must defend against witches. Many Massachusetts settlers can connect the war against witches in the invisible world and the war against Indians in the visible world. The link of the two worlds in the settler’s minds creates a place where witches are everywhere. New England’s chief military leaders and councilors are judges for the court of the Salem Witch Trials and are heavily involved in the Indian war. The judges’ deep involvement in the war causes them to be caught up in the hysteria, taking witchcraft claims seriously and convicting many people. The hysteria is tearing apart the Salem community. People look at friends with suspicious, watchful glances, while a mist of distrust hangs in the air. Everyone is caught up in witch hysteria, constantly accusing others.

    The War of the Grand Alliance is more destructive and powerful than any war ever before; it is fueling accusations and distrust. The Indian Wars are sparking colonial awareness of witches, creating a place full of fear and suspicion. The wheels of hysteria are rolling fast, picking up speed every time people are accusing and convicted. Wars are energizing the fury and vigour of people in Salem to conquer the witches. The War of the Grand Alliance is shaping the suspicion, fear, and distrust in the Salem community, tearing apart a whole society.