By: Ilea Coomer, McKay Carter, & Abby Harper

WHAT EVENTS LED TO THESE TRIALS?

Strong belief that Satan was acting in the worldA time of troubles (Smallpox, Congregational strife in Salem Village, & Frontier wars with Indians) Teenage Boredom Confessing “witches” made the others accused more believable. Old feuds spurring charges of witchcraft

WHO WAS INVOLVED?

Betty Parris and her cousin Abigail- They acted as if they were possessed. Tituba-Accused by Betty and Abigail of witchcraft Sir William Phips-Governor of Massachusetts during witch trials. William Stoughton-Chief Justice presiding over the court

WHAT WERE THE OUTCOMES?

156 people accused---55 pleaded guilty When leading people of the colony began to be accused, they put a stop to the trials. Many of the accused still in jail because they couldn’t pay for their releaseCrop failures and epidemics bothered Salem for years after the trialReverend Parris and his family left Salem

HOW DO HISTORIANS INTERPRET THESE TRIALS?

Unjust Became known for mass hysteria and superstition.

SOURCES