Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Executions

In 1692, the two girls, who became strangely ill, were Puritan girls. They shook and fell several times. They claimed that three women cast a spell on them. One was a slave named Tituba, who reluctantly yelled that there were other witches.  Eventually, she had to confess to seeing the devil and that there were other witches in the village. Because people were easily frightened, the girls accused the women of witchcraft. Twenty-four people were put to death for being witches. This was a sad time in America, but it helped change laws. Now people, who are accused of crimes, are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Salem executions were the last accused witches that we know of.