Colonial era: Salem Witch Trials 1692

The early colonial years were a time of hardship and promise. It also was a time of death and fear. This period of history is extremely important for the study of the United States of America as this is where the nation and its people began. During this period, there was much anxiety felt by the settlers as to whether or not they would establish a successful colony. Constant threats from the natives, the vast wilderness surrounding them and the turbulent weather was not a promising start to the establishment of the United States. By 1692, things were very different. Many of the first colonies in the East had overcome the initial struggles and were prospering. Then terror struck in that very same year in Salem, Massachusetts. In the January, the daughter and niece of Reverend Samuel Parris of Salem Village became ill. When they failed to improve, the village doctor, William Griggs, was called in. His diagnosis of bewitchment put into motion the forces that would ultimately result in the death by hanging of nineteen men and women. In the surrounding area around Salem, there was a strong belief in the devil, factions among Salem Village fanatics and rivalry with nearby Salem Town, a recent small pox epidemic and the threat of attack by warring tribes created a fertile ground for fear and suspicion. Mass hysteria was caused as young girls who were suffering in pain would cry out names of those who were responsible. Many men and women were hung, pressed to death or died in prisons due to the false accusations made upon them by other town members. Some historians believe people were branded a 'witch' if they possessed a lot of land or if they were widowed, especially if they were a woman. These events that took place in Salem would have been extremely interesting to study in the module as it shows how the colonial era was a very hard time for the settlers. The people of Salem became so "possessed" by the idea of witchcraft that they saw the murder of the innocent, or "witches", as the only solution to save the town.