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Salem Witch Trials

By JerricaD
  • English Law makes Witchcraft a Capital Crime

    English Law makes Witchcraft a Capital Crime

    The English make Witchcraft a crime punishable by death in all of the colonies.
  • England declares that the colonies cannot self-govern

    England declares that the colonies cannot self-govern

    The Englishd ecides that they will pick the type of government each colony in America will have, and these colonies must follow that law.
  • A few girls in the town of Salem become "afflicted"

    A few girls in the town of Salem become "afflicted"

    Eleven-year old Abigail Williams and nine-year-old Elizabeth Parris begin behaving strangely. Soon other Salem girls begin acting similarly.
  • Doctor Griggs attends to the girls.

    Doctor Griggs attends to the girls.

    Doctor Griggs, who attends to the "afflicted" girls, suggests that witchcraft may be the cause of their strange behavior.
  • Rumors about "Witchcraft" begin.

    Rumors about "Witchcraft" begin.

    Tituba, at the request of neighbor Mary Sibley, bakes a "witch cake" and feeds it to a dog. According to an English folk remedy, feeding a dog this kind of cake, which contained the urine of the afflicted, would counteract the spell put on Elizabeth and Abigail. The reason the cake is fed to a dog is because the dog is believed a "familiar" of the Devil.
  • Ministers pressure the townspeople to make false accusations.

    Ministers pressure the townspeople to make false accusations.

    Pressured by ministers and townspeople to say who caused her odd behavior, Elizabeth identifies Tituba. The girls later accuse Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne of witchcraft.
  • Arrest warrants are sent out.

    Arrest warrants are sent out.

    Arrest warrants are issued for Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne.
  • Certain girls make false confessions

    Certain girls make false confessions

    Abigail Hobbs, Bridget Bishop, Giles Cory and Mary Warren are examined. Deliverance Hobbs confesses to practicing witchcraft. Mary Warren reverses her statement made in early April and rejoins the accusers.
  • The first woman is sentenced to die as a witch.

    The first woman is sentenced to die as a witch.

    Bridget Bishop is the first to be tried and convicted of witchcraft. She is sentenced to die.
  • Nine more accused witches are sentenced to hang.

    Nine more accused witches are sentenced to hang.

    Margaret Scott, Wilmott Redd, Samuel Wardwell, Mary Parker, Abigail Faulkner, Rebecca Earnes, Mary Lacy, Ann Foster and Abigail Hobbs are tried and sentenced to hang.
  • Spectral evidence is prohibited

    Spectral evidence is prohibited

    The Reverend Increase Mather, President of Harvard College and father to Cotton Mather, denounces the use of spectral evidence to ceondemn people.
  • The remaining accused were released.

    The remaining accused were released.

    49 of the 52 surviving people brought into court on witchcraft charges are released because their arrests were based on spectral evidence.
  • A day of fasting and soul-searching was ordered.

    A day of fasting and soul-searching was ordered.

    The General Court orders a day of fasting and soul-searching for the tragedy at Salem. Moved, Samuel Sewall publicly confesses error and guilt.
  • Rights and good names of the falsely accused are restored.

    Rights and good names of the falsely accused are restored.

    The colony passes a legislative bill restoring the rights and good names of those accused of witchcraft and grants 600 pounds in restitution to their heirs.
  • The state of Massachusetts formally apologizes.

    The state of Massachusetts formally apologizes.

    Massachusetts formally apologizes for the events of 1692.
  • A memorial is dedicated to the falsely accused and hung.

    A memorial is dedicated to the falsely accused and hung.

    On the 300th anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, a witchcraft memorial is dedicated in Salem.