The historical Salem Witch Trials that made people hysterical, all began with a group of girls that claimed they were possessed by the devil. A special court took place to hear the cases. The first woman who was accused of witchcraft during the trials, Bridget Bishop, was hanged that June. The community was frightened.
By January 1692, ten year old Elizabeth Parris and 11 year old Abigail Williams began having random fits. When they got bad, A local doctor called William Griggs diagnosed them with bewitchment. After that other girls in Salem began having similar symptoms, and the two girls accused three woman. A caribbean house slave, Tituba, and two beggars named Sarah Good and Sarah Osborn.
The two beggars denied their guilt, but Tituba didn’t. Though she said she had other witches help her follow Satan. The Witch trials began overwhelming the justice system. Bridget Bishop was hanged on June the 2, five more were hanged that July, and 8 more in August. Shortly after that seven more witches died in jail.
In January 1697, the Massachusetts court general announced a day of fasting for the tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials. The court later judged the trials as unlawful. 200 people were accused of witch craft, and 20 of them were executed.