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March 1st, three hundred, thirty, three years ago, marked the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials. Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, a Native American slave were all brought in and questioned by authorities. The authorities were charged with determining whether or not the girls had practiced witchcraft.

Over the next few months, these investigations and trials would be held in Salem that would lead to the arrest of more than 150 men and women in that town. The investigations began when two young girls began having seizures, they would also shout occasionally during these seizures or immediately after. The members of the community began treating the girls with prayer, medical treatments, dieting, fasting, and more with no success.

The town of Salem was under a lot of pressure in the busy 1690’s. The community had recently suffered a smallpox epidemic, killing 3 out of every 10 members. To make matters worse, there were increased instances of Indian attacks, other town rivalries for resources and support, and economic uncertainty. Needless to say, leaders in the town were being demanded to provide solutions and answers. Pressured, the leaders concluded that these girls were being attacked by witches living amongst the town members in the community.

With the recommendation of the clergy, a special court was convened to try accused witches. There was little to no protection for those accused. Accusations spanned across socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, and status. It is interesting to note however, that single women were more prone to being accused and killed, the three girls who were interrogated were all adolescent girls with no male protector in their lives. Three other women who were targeted were widows.

In the end, nineteen people were unjustly tried and murdered by hanging at the gallows, this included five men. There was another male victim who was pressed to death, more died in prison awaiting trial. After more than 150 people were imprisoned, the state governor disbanded the special court and preventing any further trials, arrests, and prompted the immediate release of those falsely accused. It would take 19 years for legislation to be passed to restore the name and rights of those falsely accused or imprisoned.