What happend in the Salem Witch trials?

Answer 1

Salem Witch Trials

Salem Witch Trials began in 1692. As history would have you believe it the mass hysteria of the "witch hunt" was produced by a young child who had become ill. At this time there was no problem with thinking this was witch craft. However, what history often forgets and few books have entered was in fact five young women were the cause of many deaths. It was said that the young child that was in such pain and tormented could possibly be taken over by demons or witches, but nothing was done about it. One of the young girls had an argument with a laundress of a household and she talked some of her friends into getting even with the laundress and to make a long story short they started to copy the symptoms of the young child (more dramatically) accusing the poor laundress of being a witch.

Panic hit the village and Puritans had trials and some people arrested were tortured into giving up names of witches they knew or face death. Unfortunately these poor souls had no alternative and they gave any name that came to their lips. Like a rolling stone gathering moss more and more people were arrested and accused. One man had heavy stones heaped on him until he would admit to being cursed by the devil, but he refused and the weight of the stones killed him. His last words were said to be "more weight". As many as 172 to 200 people were imprisoned The rest of the prisoners were left to die in the prisons never to be released. President Clinton Pardoned and sanctified 8 of the graves (with blessings) of the innocent women who were accused of witch craft.

See related question below for more information about the possible causes of the Salem Witch Trials.

Answer 2

You know, a question word would make answering your question much easier.

The Salem Witch Trials describes the series of witchcraft trials in Salem, Massachusetts, that sprang from the witch panic that began in January-February of 1692 when girls started acting bewitched. The trials lasted from June 1692 until May 1693 and convict and execute 19 people.

Answer 3

The better question would be "what WERE the Salem witch trials?silly girl they would say". It was a time (a little over a year) when women and some men that were accused as witches went on trial and were punished. 19 people were hung and the only person ever to be pressed to death Giles Gory, was killed. During these times, people lived in constant fear that they would be accused by an "afflicted" girl or someone who was on trial for being a witch. The "afflicted" girls were young women who would claim that the people on trial were torturing them and were only quiet and seemingly unharmed when the accused touched them. After a while, the people of Salem came to their senses, the families of the dead were compensated, and the prisoners were let free as long as they could pay their jail fees. Years later, one of the afflicted girls, Ann Putnam Jr., publicly apoligized for her role in the Salem Witch Trials. The bodies were as decoration in the streets.

Not a pretty site.......

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/Salem/SALEM.HTM

Answer 4

READ THIS IT WILL HELP YOU ON A TEST!

The Salem witch craft trials is about a girl who started it all then told younger girls. But then people were getting acuused of it. then the judges wanted to prove if they were witches or not and there test were: to stick a pin in someomne mole if there was no pain they were a witch , another one is they would tie up a person and through them in water if they were to float they were known a s a witch . they killed lots of people by those test and they were proved wrong.

EDIT:

If you put that on a test, I would fail you in a heartbeat.

The trials began when girls began to have epilepsy-like symptoms. We have no idea what caused it today and have many, many theories, but in 1692, they assumed it was witchcraft. When asked for names, they gave names, claiming they could see the spectors of the people hurting them. The accused were given a trial in front of a panel of judges. The only witch test employed was the Touch Test, which said that if an afflicted in a fit were touched by the witch causing it, the evil energy causing the fit would return to the witch. Of course, the results were easy to fake. The only evidence that was really used was the afflicted testimony. However, as skeptism increased, the official trials began. Contrary to popular belief, a very small percentage of the accused was executed: 19.

Answer 5

During the Salem Witch Trials many people were hanged because they were accused of using "Witchcraft". One man was even crushed by stones because he didn't confess. This happened in the early,mid 1690's. Puritans believed Witchcraft was a sin and that using it meant you had an agreement with the Devil. Then a minister came to Salem Village. Samuel Parris. After a while Samuel's 11 year old niece was told she was under a spell or being cursed.. Sarah good was a homeless women who talked very softly under her breath. Almost everyone said she was putting curses upon people. 71 year old Rebecca Nurse was kin and generous . Gorge Burroughs was a minister. Many people were accused and were never witches. By the end of May 1692, 200 people were in jail. Massachusetts Governor William Phip's had a special court. People were only put in jail if they confessed to having a connection or agreement with the devil.19 people were hanged. In October of 1692 Increase Mather spoke his thoughts. Mr.Mather and The Governor agreed the Trials were getting out of hand. The trials were stopped. A day of fasting and prayer was held in 1697. The Salem Witch Trials only took 25 lives, most were hanged, died in jail, were crushed to death under stones. A lesson was learned No one in America was ever put to death for Witchcraft ever again.

Answer 6

A period of time when supposed witches were killed. I say supposed because hardly any of the accused were, in reality, witches.

Answer 7

The Salem Witch Trials were the legal trials of people accused of witchcraft by "Afflicted" girls in 1692 in Salem Town and Salem Village (now Danvers), Massachusetts