The Salem Witch Trials of 1692, a dark chapter in American history, saw 200 people accused of witchcraft and 20 executed. But much of what is remembered is misremembered. For example, despite common misconceptions, the victims were not exclusively women; about a quarter were men.
The trials were fueled by social and economic tensions, aggravated by a wave of refugees and political conflicts. Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible popularized the image of young women being accused, but older women and men were also targeted.
The trials took place in two distinct communities, Salem Town and Salem Village, revealing class disparities and internal divisions. Contrary to another popular belief, the accused were not all poor; many came from Salem Town’s prosperous merchants.
The paranoia culminated in the execution of two dogs, showcasing the extent of hysteria. While the Salem Witch Trials are infamous, they were part of a larger historical context of witch hunts in Europe.
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The Enlightenment era eventually ended such practices, making Salem one of the last episodes. The executions mostly involved hanging, not burning, and the cause of the initial fits may have been hallucinations induced by ergot-infected grain.
In 2016, researchers identified Proctor’s Ledge, not Gallows Hill, as the actual execution site. The trials were officially recognized as a tragedy, with apologies and restitution given centuries later. The complex origins of the hysteria involve religious beliefs, economics, class differences, history, migration, local politics, sexism, misogyny, and greed.
Top image: George Jacobs, a prominent member of the Salem community, at one of the witch trials. Source: Public Domain
