The History of the Salem Witch Trials Witchcraft is when people were considered worshiping the devil and taking part in his sinful acts. Witches were described as being people that the devil would give power to so that they could harm others in order for them to become loyal to the devil. Starting in Massachusetts in 1692, the Salem Witch Trials became a quite serious matter. First people to be convicted were, Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn, Tituba (the house slave), and Bridget Bishop, they were hung and fifteen others followed. Included were ten other women, five men, and two dogs through the twenty-five towns. After all, it did not matter your age you could and would be convicted of witchcraft if you were turned in. In fact, the youngest person …show more content…
Such as, boredom, cold weather, belief, disputes, and poisoning were some of the many reasons that the people of the villages had for witchcraft. Consequently, the young girls in the villages were thought to be bored and used the witchcraft as a way of entertainment. Also, the witch trials were used as a way to explain the cold weather that had taken their crops. Along with this, some people actually did believe in witchcraft and were very afraid when they thought anything seemed suspiciously evil. Another reason was that people used witchcraft conviction as a way to punish those whom they disliked or had unresolved issues with. Finally, the witch trials were used as a way to explain the symptoms from the fungal infections that the villagers were getting. Without any other way to explain why these infections were poisoning the people in the villages or why the crops were being ruined, the villagers turned to anything such as witchcraft to explain what was happening. All of these causes led to a witchcraft epidemic in the villages in Massachusetts and suddenly new towns and states started joining …show more content…
By May, the jails in Salem and neighboring towns held up to two-hundred accused witches. While in prison, these innocent people were treated terribly. Instead of being in a cell above ground, the “witches” were held down in a dungeon with their arms and legs chained to the wall. According to the jailers, this was so that these dangerous people could not continue to torture their victims from the prison. Of the two-hundred or so people that were imprisoned only ten escaped from the dungeon. In addition to that only about ten were pardoned but were not set free until the end of the Salem Witch