Salem Witch Trial Essay

Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials began in colonial America in 1692. Many people were falsely accused of practicing witchcraft during the beginning of America. The Puritans of Salem, Massachusetts began to fear that if the colonists close to them could in fact be witches. Most accused people had no evidence against them and twenty people lost their lives to the Salem Witch Trials. (www.smithsonianmag.com) These Puritans came to America because they wanted to Purify the Church of England. They were very serious in their faith. This group would stop at nothing to try and please God and not do the wrong thing. They totally separated themselves from the Church of England and moved to America to start fresh. They were also in America

Tituba was an Indian woman that was convicted of being a witch from this situation. Tituba was a slave of Reverend Samuel Parris, and she was married to a man named John that was also a slave of Parris. When “Betty” Parris began to have these fits that would suggest witchcraft activity, Tituba made a “witchcake” out of rye and some of Betty’s urine. She fed this cake to the dog because the dog was considered a “familiar” of the Devil. When Reverend Parris found out, he was infuriated and made Tituba confess to being a witch. Tituba also spent a total of thirteen months in jail, and was bailed out by a new owner. (law2.umkc.edu) Rebecca Nurse was denounced as a witch in 1692. Rebecca’s sister, Sarah Cloyce defends her sister and then is also accused of being a witch just like Rebecca. Another woman, Mary Easty, defended Rebecca and was also accused of being a witch herself. Mary was released from prison less than a month later. June 1692, Rebecca and others convicted of being witches were sentenced to die by being hanged in the gallows. In July, 1692, Rebecca and the others were hanged at Gallows Hill.