1. Salem Witch Trials Salem, Massachusetts 1692

2. Massachusetts, 1692 Puritans hold strong belief in devil growing conflicts with neighboring native tribes, but also among each other now desire to keep Puritan faith strong for future generations, anxiety about Puritanism fading in some places in New World tensions and rigors of daily life Cotton Mather’s Memorable Providences recounts events surrounding suspected witchcraft in Boston All lead to fertile ground for fear and suspicion…

3. New! Audio from Act 1

4. Salem, 1692 Elizabeth Parris, 9, and Abigail Williams, 11 blasphemous screaming convulsive seizures trance-like states mysterious spells within a short time, several other Salem girls began to demonstrate similar behavior physicians concluded that the girls were under the influence of Satan.

5. Salem, 1692 Prayer services were conducted by Reverend Samuel Parris in hopes of purging the evil forces the girls named three women as cohorts Tituba, Parris' Caribbean Indian slave Sarah Good Sarah Osborne. Tituba confesses to practicing witchcraft!

6. Witch Hysteria Magistrates Judge Hathorne and Judge Danforth examined the women in the meeting house in Salem Village townspeople came forward and testified they were victims of witchcraft many innocent people were accused poor people who held debts prior criminals people vulnerable to land disputes faithful churchgoers and people of high standing in the community

9. Salem Witch Trials Victims 24 people dead 19 hanged on Gallows Hill in Salem Town 5 died in prison Eventually, criticism mounted and reliance on spectral and intangible evidence was no longer be allowable in trials.

10. New! Introductory Quiz Question #1

11. New! Introductory Quiz Question #2