Salem Witch Trials

When people think probably think hat, broom, cauldrons, and a vicious black cat. In Salem, that was not the case. The accused "witches" all led normal lives before the

trials. No one could solidly prove that the people accused actually practiced witchcraft, but still nineteen alleged witches were hung, and many more faced the

embarrassment of dealing the the accusations. One would think by the time the United States had been colonized, that these many people couldn't possibly be so cruel

and ignorant to other humans. The Salem Witch Trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts which was first settled in 1621. English Puritans settled about 2 years later.

Salem was torn by disputes of who would be the first governor. By the time the governor was assigned, the prisons were already full of alleged witches. Puritans had low

tolerance. It was against the law to not attend church, people were expected to work hard and to repress emotions. Differences were discouraged. The Puritan lifestyle

also had a strong belief in witchcraft. They believed thaphenonenomst the devil was as real as god. They believed he would select the weakest individuals (considered to be

women, children, and the mentally unstable) to carry out his work. Those who followed Satan were considered witches" (23.) At the center of the tragedy in 1692

Salem were real people--the "bewitched" young girls, town leaders who fanned the hysteria, innocent men and women accused of witchcraft. Whether they helped create

the witch hunt or were at the mercy of the events, together these people made up a community wrapped in jealousy, ego, fear, and superstition. Meet six individuals whose

lives were lost or forever changed by the witch hunts. Throughout these stories, you'll get a firsthand look at the events through primary sources, from letters to trial

transcripts." Fear of witches spread in Salem as Abigail Williams and Betty Parris began acting strangely. They claimed to be bewitched by the family slave, Tituba.

Tituba admitted to learning of witchcraft from her previous owner and that she and 2 other accused witches signed