What were the Salem Witch Trials?
The Salem witch trials had occurred in Massachusetts, around 1692. When the daughter of a Reverend in the Salem Village became very ill, the village doctor had come, and diagnosed the cause as witchcraft. The idea of witchcraft frightened many people, and in turn, caused chaos in the village. People began accusing others of witchcraft for any reason, out of fear of being accused themselves. Many people were accused of witchcraft, over 200, and 20 people were executed. Eventually, the colony admitted the trials were a mistake, that there was no witchcraft, and a small compensations were rewarded to the families of those convicted.