History has changed the way people look at life today. Looking back on the way they foraged and settled on new lands is truly an exciting part of history. However in the year 1692, in America, a tragedy struck. In the town of Salem village were accused of witchcraft and sorcery. The Salem witch trials have been a big part of history, with many accusations and theories no one really knows what really happened. In order to understand the magnitude of the Salem witch trials, it is important to know about the symptoms from which the accusers suffered, to know who were the victims being accused, and the history of ergot poisoning. The symptoms of the accused are very important to understand. In 1691, late December, eight girls had started acting odd after the minister …show more content…
Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, it didn’t matter who you were or what you did if you're were accused you were sent to jail or put to death. Some people were let free if they confessed to being a witch, but not everyone was that lucky. “ On July 15, Martha Carrier, a resident of Andover, was arrested after being accused by several of the afflicted girls from Salem” (Billings). Martha was condemned on August 5, 1692. Later her children Thomas and Sarah were put into jail until they said their mother's name, soon after they were beaten and punished until their mother confessed. After no confession, she was sent to be hanged on August 19, 1692 (Billings). Not only did the were the accused affected, but so were their families. The victims were abused till they confessed or killed while in jail. “... Sarah Good’s nursing infant, who died while good was incarcerated; Roger Toothaker, who was murdered in prison…” (Billings). There was one incident that a woman had been found innocent but was never released and died in prison in 1693 (Billings). These are just a few of the many everyday people who were wrongfully accused of