How far can you take an accusation? For example, would you make up a lie that would get someone killed? That was the reality for the victims of the Salem witch trials. They were either in the wrong place at the wrong time, or they did not fit the ideals of their society.
The Salem witch trials took place in Massachusetts in the United States between 1692 and 1693. As a result of these so-called trials, more than 200 people would be accused of practicing witchcraft. Elizabeth Johnson, the last convict of these witch trials, was recently acquitted. Unfortunately, this belated justice did not mean much for the people who lost their lives as a result of these trials and their families.
Why and How Did the Idea of Witchcraft Spread in Salem Town?
Several centuries ago, many Christians and members of other religions held a strong belief that Satan could give some people, known as witches, the power to harm others in exchange for their loyalty. From the 1300s to the late 1600s, there was a “witchcraft craze” in Europe. Tens of thousands of so-called witches, mostly women, would be executed during this period. The Salem trials began just as this frenzy was coming to an end.
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When enough people accept something, it becomes reality. What happened in Salem in the late 17th century was a case in point. The people of Salem believed that anything outside of the way of life they knew to be right was the work of the devil. But after a while, the citizens began to accuse each other of witchcraft, despite knowing the grave consequences.
The trials spiraled out of control as the people of Salem blamed witches for all that was wrong in their lives. Since no real proof of witchcraft was required, the number of those convicted grew steadily. By this time, the smallpox epidemic had taken over the town. At the same time, tensions with the neighboring town increased. As a result, people were afraid of losing loved ones to war or disease. The witch hunt was a way for them to regain control.
Two children would be the triggers for the events in Salem
In January 1692, Reverend Parris’ 9-year-old daughter Elizabeth and 11-year-old niece Abigail Williams began to exhibit strange behavior. Their limbs and necks spasmed uncontrollably, their mouths twisted, they made strange noises, and they had seizures. The doctor who examined the children said the symptoms were the result of spells cast by witches.
Later, another girl, Ann Putnam, aged 11, experienced similar phenomena. Later, under pressure from judges Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne, the girls accused three women of harassing them: Tituba, a South American Indian; Sarah Good, a homeless beggar; and Sarah Osborne, a poor, elderly woman.
All three women were brought before local magistrates and questioned for several days. Osborne, like Good, claimed her innocence. But Tituba confessed her “guilt” and named many other women in Salem who she believed were in league with the Devil. As a result, the Salem Witch Trials began.
How did the Salem Witch Trials work?
With the seeds of paranoia sown, a stream of accusations began over the next few months. Everyone living in the town of Salem would soon begin to suspect each other. In the end, everyone could have been a witch.
Women who could not have children, healers, left-handers were among the first to be suspected. As the number of accused increased rapidly, prisons and courts were filled. For this reason, the governor of Massachusetts, William Phips, set up a special court for witch trials. The governor appointed seven judges to serve on the tribunal and appointed William Stoughton, a lieutenant governor with no legal knowledge and a reputation for cruelty, as chief judge.
In these courts, the first half of the trial heard the suspected witch’s story. The second half decided whether the accused should be punished or released. The testimony of the witness was usually enough to make a decision. In order to make a decision, various irrational tests were used. The option most likely to save the life of the accused was to plead guilty.
The first case brought before the special court was a woman named Bridget Bishop. Many people who did not like her lifestyle accused her of witchcraft. In a Puritan society that strictly followed the rules of the Bible, Bishop was an obvious target. Some historians believe that one reason Bridget Bishop was accused was that her second husband’s children wanted her property. Whatever the reason, this woman was the first person to be hanged on what was later called Gallows Hill on June 10.
How Did the Salem Witch Trials End?
Soon 19 women were to be hanged. People gradually became concerned about this situation. Finally, on October 12, 1692, the Governor announced that there would be no more witch trials. The main reason for this was that even his own wife had been accused of witchcraft. However, by this time, in addition to those hanged, many others had died in prison and the event was a black mark on history.
In 1697, Samuel Sewall, one of the judges in the trials, pleaded guilty to participating in the proceedings. In 1702, the Massachusetts General Court declared the trials illegal. Ten years later, money would be distributed to the families of the victims. Much later, in 1957, the state of Massachusetts formally apologized for the events of the past.
But despite all this, not a single woman was exonerated. This was Elizabeth Johnson, whose name we mentioned at the beginning of this article, who was accused of witchcraft at the age of 22, along with her entire family. The acquittal came in 2022, 329 years after Johnson was found guilty of witchcraft. And this was the result of an 8th grade student’s realization of the situation and a joint campaign with her teacher.
The lessons learned from the trials have also shaped today’s courts. In the witch trials, defendants were on their own. Today, defendants can be represented by lawyers. Perhaps the most important development has been the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. But one question remains.
What was the reason for the strange behavior of the little girls that caused all these events?
There have been many theories as to the cause of these girls’ disturbances. One of them was Linnda Caporael’s rye fungus theory in 1976. People who ate rye infected with this parasite could experience hallucinations, muscle spasms and seizures. Another theory was brain inflammation caused by antibodies. As a result, it is now known that people with this disease were labeled hysterical or neurotic for years and sent to mental institutions.
These and other possible diseases could explain why two little girls with the same genetic background showed similar symptoms. But one wonders what was wrong with the other girls. Here psychologists emphasize social-political factors. After all, it is possible that when these girls and women behaved in unorthodox ways, perhaps intentionally, perhaps unknowingly, the bigoted public learned to react in certain ways.
Other theories will of course follow. Although we cannot be sure exactly what happened, the Salem Witch Trials have left their mark on history as an important reminder that an uneducated mass can cause mass delusion when they find a favorable environment.
