Lesson 3 : The salem witch trials

In Salem Village, during the cold winter of 1692, two little girls fell ill and were said to be witched/under a spell.

The sickness and other unrelated events, like a smallpox epidemic & attacks by Native America tribes triggered/sparked off a wave of mass hysteria among the villagers because people pointed an accusing finger at witches without real proof. The Puritains were very strict & religious which caused an irrational fear of everything that was different to them.

150 people were accused & even arrested of witchcraft, some of them were tried/on trial and charged with being a witch. Around eighteen people were executed by hanging while others died in prison. One man was crushed to death by heavy stones as a form of punishment.

Contrary to what people believe/unlike the stereotype, witches weren’t burnt but they were hanged.

People started to turn against the trials. The last trial took place in early 1693.