Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials were a series of legal proceedings that took place in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts, where a group of people, primarily women, were accused of practicing witchcraft. Fueled by superstition, fear, and societal tensions, the trials led to widespread panic and the execution of 20 individuals. Many were imprisoned, often based on flimsy evidence or spectral visions. The trials reflect the dangers of mass hysteria, the consequences of scapegoating marginalized individuals, and the failures of the legal system under pressure, ultimately leading to a greater skepticism about witch hunts and the importance of due process.