The 1692 Salem Witch Trials: An Obscure Hardship In American History

Beginning in 1692 and ending in 1693, the witch trials in Salem, MA were a tragedy that in my opinion never should have occurred. Nearly two hundred people were falsely imprisoned, 19 (mostly women) were executed in the form of hanging, 5 died while in prison, and one man was horrifically stoned to death. What could possibly go wrong in this town for these crazy accusations to even be thought? What could have been going on inside of those people’s heads to falsely accuse so many innocent people? Weren’t these people supposed to be Christians?

            These are all questions that one may ask about such a puzzling time in history. There is no clear reason as to why the residents of Salem acted as irrationally as they did, however it is clear that as soon as one person suggested that the “strange” behaviors were likely to be the working of witch craft (which were actually brought on by a smallpox outbreak). The entire town became frantic and in a state of hysteria. They believed that witches were the result of having two hearts, one good and one evil, and ultimately the evil one always ended up taking over the good one. They believed this was the working of the devil and these witches were “the devils people”.

            In my opinion, the people of Salem were looking for a quick way to, for lack of a better word; “solve” the problems they were having because people were not acting like themselves once they became ill. Ultimately however, the worst part about the situation is that the accusations did not stop there, the hysteria grew to a point in which people were accusing others for any and every possible reason that they could think of in order to cause themselves to appear perfect in the hopes of not being accused of witch craft themselves. One of the most appalling examples that I have come across in research are the young girls who would appear as if they were “struck dumb” by the witchcraft of another young girl whom they had just been friends and playing with. Which, in turn, lead to accusing that girl and causing her to be arrested and put on trial.

One small fraction of this event is clear to be understood, the time period. Today’s medicine would never allow for such obscure events to occur simply on the belief that someone has two hearts, and it would be clear to doctors that someone had simply contracted an illness and was not working for the devil due to having two hearts. Also, the court system in today’s society, may not always be perfect, but is conducted in a significantly better way than the way that the people of Salem were trying to run things. No justice was being served at this time. I know that because all of the accused were innocent even if they plead guilty. The people that were convicted were only killed IF they confessed. I believe that his is just an extremely unfair way to seek justice. Those poor people were put to death simply because they could not stand the torture any longer.    

O Christian Martyr Who for Truth could die
           When all about thee Owned the hideous lie!
          The world, redeemed from superstition's sway,
          Is breathing freer for thy sake today.
          -Words written by John Greenleaf Whittier and inscribed on 

a monument marking the grave of Rebecca Nurse, one of 

the condemned "witches" of Salem.