Salem+Witch+Trials

The Salem witch trials were when many people went "Witch Hunting." Around 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and a total of 20 people were put to death for it. This event happened from 1692 to 1693 in Massachusetts. During that time, there was a common belief between Christains that the devil could give //witches// the ability to harm others in return for their servitude. Witch hunting had began in Europe, but it was nearly over by the time the Salem Witch Trials had begun in Salem, Massachusetts. It all started when Salem began to struggle because many newcomers arrived. The villagers had always had just enough to eat and to take care of their needs, but the mass amount of new people in the village created many problems. Through the struggling, old family grudges were revisited which affected the wealth and livelihood of their crops. There was also problems with Salem's first ordained minister, Reverend Samuel Parris because he was not well liked among the villagers. Many Puritans began to believe that the struggles were the work of the devil. In January of 1692 The Reverend's two daughters began to have what he called, "fits." They began to act out by screaming, throwing things, making strange noises, and contort in ways they normally don't. One doctor believed that the fits were a result of the paranormal, because another girl was experiencing the same side-affects. On February 29, a woman came out and blamed the fits on three women. Two of the three woman claimed to be innocent, but the third woman, Tituba, told the jury that it was her whom had bewitched the children. She claimed that the devil had come to her and told her to sign a contract of sorts and serve her, so the woman did. The three accused woman were all incarcerated. After the confession of witchdom, many more accusations occured, to the point where a four year old girl was put on the stand. Eventually Governor William Phipps created a jury strictly for witch persecution. The place where the court put witches to death was named Gallows Hill. Many more supposed //witches// were put to death until the day the court publicly admited to error in their ways of witch hunting. January 14, 1697 was labeled as a day for "fasting and soul-searching."In 1711, Salem passed a bill that restored the rights and names of the people and granted the victims £600.


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Source for Information: www.smithsonianmag.com

Sources for Pictures: Trial, [] Museum, []