By: Ilea Coomer, McKay Carter, & Abby Harper

WHAT EVENTS LED TO THESE TRIALS?

Strong belief that Satan was acting in the world

A time of troubles (Smallpox, Congregational strife

in Salem Village, & Frontier wars with Indians)

Teenage Boredom

Confessing “witches” made the others accused

more believable.

Old feuds spurring charges of witchcraft

WHO WAS INVOLVED?

Betty Parris and her cousin Abigail- They acted

as if they were possessed.

Tituba-Accused by Betty and Abigail of witchcraft

Sir William Phips-Governor of Massachusetts

during witch trials.

William Stoughton-Chief Justice presiding over

the court

WHAT WERE THE OUTCOMES?

156 people accused---55 pleaded guilty

When leading people of the colony began to be

accused, they put a stop to the trials.

Many of the accused still in jail because they

couldn’t pay for their release

Crop failures and epidemics bothered Salem for

years after the trial

Reverend Parris and his family left Salem

HOW DO HISTORIANS INTERPRET THESE TRIALS?

Unjust

Became known for mass hysteria and

superstition.

SOURCES