Salem Witch Trials - 1692
Panic, panic, everywhere there was panic. What were people panicking about? There were suspicions that some people were practicing witchcraft. It started with an Indian woman named Tituba, who also involved two girls and practiced witchcraft (which they admitted to). A hysterical fear came over Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, in which over 160 individuals were charged with 'covenanting with evil spirits'.
Witchcraft was commonplace in the 17th century. The incident involving Tituba and the two girls sparked the interest of many people into this situation. Nineteen men and women were hanged because it was believed that they were practicing witchcraft, and the government of Massachusetts did not deal well with the accusations. The Puritan clergy was suspicious of the 'evidences' that the court had admitted, and over time, the clergy's influence brought this whole panic to a close.
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