1. Salem Witch Trials

2. 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

3. 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

4. Aftermath More than 200 accused of being a witch 20 were executed
19 were hanged
One man was pressed beneath rocks

5. 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

6. 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