Native Americans: The Salem Witch Trials Of 1692

Tens of thousands of Native Americans lived in Massachusetts prior to colonization in 17 century. European traders and fisherman were carelessly introduced diseases to Native tribes and it devastated their people. Much of the Land was vacant and available to settle. Colonization began in the 1620 with two Massachusetts and Plymouth Colony.

Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were dark times in American History in Massachusetts Bay Colony. Dozens of people were being accused of practicing witchcraft. Members of local community suspected of witchcraft, when Abigail Williams, and Anne Putman Jr. began displaying strange behaviors in the winters of 1691-1692. Both were Puritan, they decided to join Tituba, Sarah Osborne, and Sarah Good who were members

They didn’t fit the image of a Christian. While Tituba occupied the image of foreign slave. They were suspected of witchcraft when Tituba confessed of witchcraft. Osborne died in jail, while Good was sentenced to hang. When Good walked Gallows Hill she was accompanied by three other women suspected of witch craft. Later the number grew to seven more women suspected of witchcraft. One of the locations that took focus during the witch trials was Rebecca Nurse Homestead. Nurse was accused of witchcraft by the Putman family. It was believed the accusation came from a long standing dispute over their boundary of adjoin lands.

According to (Jerra Jenrette, 2012) in 1692 it took 24 people, 20 who were executed. It ended in 1693 when spectral evidence declared inadmissible. This included evidence based on dreams and visions. The strong colony of Massachusetts Bay were strong Christian believers who feared the devil was constantly trying to find a way to destroy their communities. The community was living in isolation in a mysterious New World and the Salem community was triggered when Tituba confessed to working with witches. The Salem residents were under great stress during this

Combining the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Plymouth Colony and several other colonies into one. The Revolution in England was under way in 1688 when they took over James II. It took several days for the news to reach Massachusetts Bay colonists who were delighted to hear because it gave them an opportunity to get rid of Dominion of New England. According to (Brooks, 2016) in April 18 a mob rose and gathered in the Boston to overthrow the Dominion of New England Sr. Edmund Andros. This action in Massachusetts Bay Colony inspired other colonies to assert their own independence and reinstate their old charters.

Several other factors were attack of Native-American tribes, diseases and refugees trying to escape King Williams’s war that effected Salem colonist. With war going on and people determined to hunt witches the colony suffered. Daily chores and business were neglected during the chaos of the witch trials. As a direct result food became scare and taxes got higher. Many farmers sold their lands to pay prison fees and high