Salem Witch Trials
The Beginning 1692-1693 Massachusetts Girls started having “fits” Thought to be possessed by the devil Blamed Tituba for casting spells on them Accused 3 women Tituba, Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne
The Trial At first, 3 women were arrested: Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osbourn Tituba admitted to being a witch All were considered misfits in society Unfair trial because there was never any real evidence yet they were all convicted on the testimony of young girls
Aftermath More than 200 accused of being a witch 20 were executed 19 were hanged One man was pressed beneath rocks
Realization Many, if not all of the victims were not guilty Led to a desire for modern court system with fair trials, an emphasis on hard evidence, impartial jury, and a citizen is innocent until proven guilty. People began to see that religion needed to be separate from government
In Today’s World The girls would have been charged with: False accusation Filing a false police report A jury of the defendant’s peers would have determined their fate. Lack of evidence, hearsay