Salem Witch Trials Research Paper

In January 1692, the colony of Salem, Massachusetts would encounter a situation that would change the small colony forever. That year the quiet town would endure a 9-month long span of trials of witchcraft that would leave 200 accused witches and 20 dead. The trials were based on religious beliefs and would separate all the “unholy” citizens from the community. The trials separated the community based on fear and individuals singling out others based on class. The witch-hunts have affected modern society by deeming women as weak and inferior to men and as easily controlled. The whole thing could have even simply started as a group of young girls who just wanted to gain attention and then taken over by corrupt leaders who wanted to exercise
The girls would later be questioned and both girls named three women as the witches. A slave owned by Parris, Tituba, was named by the girls as the one who bewitched them. The girls also names poor elders Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn as fellow witches. The community was hit again when during Tituba’s confession she said there 7 more witches from the community that “marked” into the “book with the devil,”(12) and that if she they did not the devils work there would be repercussions. Throughout the next few months, more children would come to accuse women in the community of witch activities and even a woman named Elizabeth Hubbard would claim to be “molested by Satan.” (13) The trials became so immense that royal governor, William Phips, had to come to the colony and form a new court just for the trials for the 200 individuals who would be accused. The trials would run until October of the same year when the court was suspended. In total 200 people were accused including individuals who were related to others who were accused. A total of 19 people were hanged due to being accused, many died in prisons, and even one man was pressed to death during an