Salem witch trials

The Salem witch trials of Colonial America resulted in a number of convictions and executions for witchcraft in 1692 in Massachusetts, the result of a period of factional infighting and Puritan paranoia which led to the deaths of at least 25 people and the imprisonment of scores more.

The ending

The witch trials ended in January 1693, although people already jailed for witchcraft were not all released until the next spring. Officially, the royal appointed governor of Massachusetts, Sir William Phips, ended them after an appeal by Boston-area clergy headed by Increase Mather, "Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits," published October 3, 1692. In it, Increase Mather stated "It were better that Ten Suspected Witches should escape, than that the Innocent Person should be Condemned." Echoes of this phrase can be found in the United States of America's innocent-until-proven-guilty judicial system of today.1

Related Topics:
1693 - Massachusetts - Increase Mather - Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits - October 3 - 1692 - United States of America - 1

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This incident was so profound that it helped end the influence of the Puritan faith on the governing of New England.

Related Topics:
Puritan - New England

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~