The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693.

The events that unfolded in Salem had a lasting impact on the historical reputation of New England Puritans. Though this witch hunt occurred after Puritans had lost political control of the Massachusetts colony, it was Puritans that instigated the judicial proceedings against the accused and comprised the members of the court that convicted and sentenced the accused.

More than two hundred people were accused.

In January of 1692, Reverend Samuel Parris' daughter Elizabeth, age 9, and niece Abigail Williams, age 11, started having "fits." The children screamed, threw things, uttered peculiar sounds and contorted themselves into strange positions until a local doctor blamed the supernatural. Another girl, Ann Putnam, age 11, experienced similar episodes. On February 29, under pressure from magistrates Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne, the girls blamed three women for afflicting them: Tituba, the Parris' Caribbean slave; Sarah Good, a homeless beggar; and Sarah Osborne, a wealthy widow.

Although she initially denied any practice of witchcraft, Tituba later confessed to making a "witchcake" after being beaten by Samuel Parris. When questioned later, she added that she knew about occult techniques from her mistress in Barbados, who taught her how to ward herself from evil powers.

Ann Putnam was friends with some of the girls who claimed to be afflicted by witchcraft and, in March 1692, proclaimed herself afflicted as well. Some historians have suggested that a long-lasting feud between the Putnam and Porter families may have played into her 62 accusations of witchcraft.

None of the "witches" put to death in the Salem witch trials were burned at the stake. All those executed were hanged but one, Giles Cory, who was pressed to death. Several others died in prison, including Sarah Osborne, Roger Toothaker, Lyndia Dustin, and Ann Foster.

Dorothy Good was just four years old when she was accused of witchcraft. After being interrogated by the local magistrates for two weeks, she finally told them what they wanted to hear--that her mother, Sarah Good, was a witch who consorted with the devil. Dorothy had a younger sister, Mercy, who was born after Sarah's arrest and died shortly after birth, likely from malnourishment and the harsh conditions of imprisonment.

George Burroughs was a former Salem minister. He is best known for reciting the Lord's Prayer during his execution, something it was believed a witch could never do. According to those present, he made a speech declaring his innocence. His words were uttered with such fervency of spirit that it seemed to some the execution might be halted, but his accusers said the "Black Man" whispered in his ear. After the hanging, another minister, Cotton Mather, addressed the crowd and told them that the devil often pretended to be an Angel of Light.

William Stoughton acted as both chief judge and prosecutor. He was particularly harsh on some of the defendants, sending the jury deliberating in the case of Rebecca Nurse back to reconsider its not guilty verdict. After doing so, she was convicted.