Salem Witch Trials Research Paper

Words: 292
Pages: 2

The Salem witch trials began in February 1692 and lasted until May 1693. In the town of Salem Village, Massachusetts, a group of young girls began acting out and claimed to be possessed by the devil. They placed blame for their behavior on several local women and accused them of witchcraft. This created widespread hysteria to breakout around the colonial area. Throughout the year that the trials took place, more than 150 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 were executed. Public opinion began to turn against the trials in September 1692. By May 1693, the Massachusetts General Court admitted the trials were a mistake and compensated those that were accused. Since then, there have been many perspectives regarding the cause of