Salem Witch Trials Research Paper

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The trials held in Salem during the late 1600s were unfair, wrongly accused hundreds of innocent people of witchcraft, and later led to dozens of executions. There were significant events that led to this tragedy in Salem. There were also significant people who influenced the events. Eventually, the people of Salem realized they were wrong and apologized; however, they could never take back the horrific atrocities that happened during the Salem Witch Trials. The Salem Witch Trials began in early 1692 with a minister named Cotton Mather, Minister of Boston's old church. The first accused witch’s name was Goody Glover, she was an Irish slave. Martha became ill directly after an argument with glover she was also suspected in 4 other cases, she…show more content…
Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne were also accused at this time; they were named co-conspirators of Tituba by Tituba herself during her confession. Over the next months dozens more people are accused of witchcraft. A lot of times the judges had already made up their mind before the trial. It came to a point where trials were just a formality. Almost never was an accused witch found innocent. There was so much suspicion during this time, and oftentimes people would accuse others out of hatred. There was a certain picture people placed in their head of witches as more flamboyant and outspoken. Women who were construed as ‘mean’ and known to be argumentative were thought as likely witches and accused the most often. After the witches were accused and arrested for practicing witchcraft they took place in an examination. They would look for birthmarks and moles, as they were thought to be marks of the devil; the people of Salem referred to these markings as “Witch Treats.” Another test would be to put the children who were thought to be afflicted by witchcraft in front of the…show more content…
She was a 71-year-old women. Even though she was spoken for on the behalf of Cotton Mather she was still testified, and found guilty. Rebecca was known as, “the least likely to be accused.” She was an elderly women and many protested on her behalf swearing her innocence. She was excommunicated from her church, and sentenced to death June 30th 1692. She was later executed on July 19th 1692. It was not until after her execution was the first time people publicly opposed the

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