Which of the following is not a theory as to the cause of the salem witch trials?

a.
they were a distraction from failed military ventures against the native americans.

b.
the rise of a mercantile elite was causing tensions between social classes in salem.

c.
they were a distraction from a large budget deficit that the leaders of salem had recently incurred.

d.
the rise of competition between two groups was dividing many citizens in salem.

C.

They were a distraction from a large budget deficit that the leaders of Salem had recently incurred.

Explanation:

This has never been a theory for the Salem witch trials.

the dominoes began to fall. the surrender at appomattox took place a week later on april 9. while it was the most significant surrender to take place during the civil war, gen. robert e. lee, the confederacy's most respected commander, surrendered only his army of northern virginia to union gen. ulysses s. grant

explanation:

a) the colonists began to see themselves as different from people in britain.