The Salem witch trials occurred in Massachusetts in the year of 1962. 20 people were executed and over 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft (the Devil’s magic). It all started when Reverend Samuel Parris’ niece and daughter started throwing, what were described as, “fits”. The fits consisted of the girls throwing things, moving into strange positions, saying very odd things, and screaming. When the girls were examined and observed by the village doctor, the doctor blamed the supernatural. A short time later, another girl started experiencing similar episodes. Eventually the girls were pressured into blaming someone for what was happening to them. The girls pointed the fingers at three people; among the three was Tituba, the Parris’ …show more content…
In June of 1962, the special Court of Oyer and Terminer, which was made of magistrates and jurors, sat in Salem to hear the cases of witchcraft. The first person to be tried was a woman named Bridget Bishop. Bridget lived in Salem, when the court tried her she was found guilty and was hanged on June 10. After Bishop was hanged, three other hanging days were set up. In total five men and thirteen women from all walks of life were hanged shortly after Bridget Bishop. Soon after these three hanging days, the Court was disbanded by Governor William Phillips. After the original court was disbanded, another court formed. The original court allowed the use of spectral evidence. This was a big deal because many people in the village would claim that the accused would use their invisible “shapes or specters” to torture them which obviously could not be proven true. The new court didn’t allow this type of evidence though and so it was then that many of the people accused and awaiting a trial were released along with the people who were to be executed. The Salem witch trials were over due to the new court not allowing that type of evidence. In the years following the witch trials, compensation and apologies were offered and given to the families of the