Salem Witch Trials Research Paper

The True Reason Why the Salem Witchcraft Trials Were so Devastating In January 1692, there was a huge event in American History, most people know this as the Salem Witchcraft Trials. In the predominantly Puritan village of Salem in Massachusetts Bay Colony, two women were accused of witchcraft, their names are Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams, the daughter and niece of minister Samuel Parris. To the community in the village they were acting strangely, vomiting, screaming, hallucinations, and convulsions. When they were brought to the doctor, he could not link the symptoms with any disease that he knew, therefore he diagnosed them as “bewitched.” As well many historians believe that the trials and executions were due to mass hysteria,

They could confess, and be redeemed or go to trial. With there being little to no evidence, besides sightings of spirits, and someone doing harm to another, that is all it would take to find that person guilty. As well there were no defense lawyers, for almost every trial the person accused would be found guilty and executed. Between June and september of 1962 19 women and men were found guilty of witchcraft, and seeing as they did not confess to their actions, they were there by hung on Gallows Hill, few miles outside of Salem. Due to these incidents many say that these trials were one of the most tragic series of events in the history of the United States, as well the history of the Christian

The community was relieved to know that there were no more witches, or any that they knew of. On September 22 1963 the last of the so-called witches were let out of prison in Salem. As of the day the Salem witch Trials had ended. During that time nearly 1 to 200 people were imprisoned in the Salem area because they were accused of witchcraft, twenty-four died, and fifty-five were falsely imprisoned. Although that was the official end to the trials, they still had a huge influence on life today. The aftermath of the trials created closer within the community. However a surprising fact about this is only one of the six girls apologized. Each girl lived a quiet normal calm life after the trials were over. As for the one that did apologize her name was Ann Putnam Jr., She accused sixty-two people of witchcraft and was the only accuser to apologize. She issued a public apology in 1706. She stated that she was sorry, and felt as though she was taken by satan. She said, "I desire to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling providence that befell my father's family in the year about ninety-two; that I, then being in my childhood, should, by such a providence of God, be made an instrument for the accusing of several people for grievous crimes, whereby their lives was taken away from them, whom, now I have just grounds and good reason to believe they were innocent persons; and that it was a great delusion of