Salem Witchcraft Trials
At a glance:
- Series: Great Events from History: North American Series
- Categories: Women’s Issues, Religion, Ethics, Social Issues, Reform, and Protest
- Subcategories: Colonialism, Colonies, Settlements, Murder, Homicide, Execution, Assassination, Trials, Judges, Lawyers, Violence, Discrimination, Prejudice, Paganism, Witches, Witchcraft
- Curriculum: Women’s History, American Colonial History (1607-1775)
- Geographical Location: Massachusetts, New England
- Date: June 2, 1692-May, 1693
Article abstract: Religious, emotionally hysterical, and perhaps politically motivated fervor leads to tragic persecution.
Summary of Event
Early in 1692, a circle of young girls began to meet in the home of Samuel Parris, the Puritan pastor of Salem Village. The minister’s nine-year-old daughter, Betty, and Betty’s eleven-year-old cousin, Abigail Williams, were fascinated by the voodoo-like tales and tricks of the family’s Barbados slave, Tituba, and soon they began to invite their friends to share in the entertainment. Before long, some of the...
[The entire page is 2066 words long]
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