The Salem Witch Trials In The 14th Century

The Salem Witch Trials In the 14th century, a witch superstition broke out in Europe. When Europeans found the colonies, this belief carried over to their new lands. Many of the settlers, as the colonies gained age, still were very suspicious about the existence of witches. So, when a smallpox epidemic broke out in the mid 17th century, people once again became fearful of witches. The Salem Witch trials are a series of trials that began due to the fear that had erupted and taken place in the colonies, but more specifically in Massachusetts. The Salem Witch Trials were fueled by residents’ suspicions and resentment of their neighbors, as well as their fear of outsiders.
The period itself became sparked because people engrossed themselves in the idea that the Devil was constantly trying to find a way to ruin their lives. This time is known as a trigger period, which, when the first accusation of witchcraft was combined with the fear of the evil supernatural, had began. From the start of the …show more content…
The after effects of the trials still lingered way past the last trial that was held in May 1693. In the decades following the trials, survivors and family members sought to establish the innocence of the individuals who were convicted. In the following centuries, the descendants of those unjustly accused and condemned have sought to honor their family. In November 2001, years after the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the trials, the Massachusetts legislature passed an act exonerating all who had been convicted and naming each innocent. The family of those accused had finally gained the justice they deserved. Twenty plus people lost their lives for false accusations, and it took three hundred years for them to gain back part of what they, and their family, had lost. To this day, the Salem Witch Trials are a reminder of tragedy, and corrupt court, and also as an unrepeatable