Three Deranged Girls: The Salem Witch Trials

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Three deranged girls, from 1692 Salem; Massachusetts, precipitated the mass hangings of twenty innocent people accused of witchery for the reason that of their adept prowess at acting, their marital status and jealousy of the newfound eastern wealth. As a result of their skills in deception, the accusers were able to dupe the jury to convict people of witchcraft. For example, Document C describes the three girls’ reactions once their target entered the vicinity. “As soon as she [Bishop] came near, all(afflicted girls) fell into fits.” This suggests that the girls were acting as if Bishop was the cause of their trauma, thereby proving her guilty of witchcraft. Moreover, according to Charles Upham, a 19th century historian, Salem was engulfed