During the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, people truly believed in Satan’s ability to affect the human realm through witches and wizards. Witches have been around throughout history; before and after Salem. Salem is different from other instances of witchcraft, because of the amount of accused and how rapidly it engulfed the village. Historians have attempted to explain why the girls began accusing their neighbors of witchcraft, but none of the explanations fully explain the entire situation.

One theory is that the villagers were ingesting a poisonous fungus that grows on cereal grains during damp months. Ergot poisoning can cause many of the symptoms the girls experienced; such as, “giddiness, feelings of pressure in the head, nausea, pain in the limbs, acutely uncomfortable sensation, twitches, and spasms of the tongue and facial muscles.” The poison could account for some of the uncontrollable fits the girls exhibited, but it does not account for their visions. Historians generally believe the possessed were experiencing some type of physical or mental illness.

Other explanations account for the potential fraudulent accusations. Many of these girls experienced traumatic events living in the frontier areas during the Indian wars. Also, colonial life was not easy. Many times people suffered from famine, disease, and instability. Some believe the girls were bored and began acting out. After the hysteria took hold, many of the girls could not admit to their lies for fear of punishment. Mary Warren admitted she was not afflicted and the other girls were not either. Later, some of the adult villagers accused people of witchcraft. It is suggested that many of these people accused others because of old feuds.

Regardless of their reasons, the hysteria claimed the lives of around twenty people and ruined the lives of many others. The outbreak occurred in modern Danvers, MA where visitors can see the homes and graves of many of the victims. Modern Salem, MA had an active role in the hysteria also. Many museums give visitors the opportunity to learn more about the events. One of these museums is the Witch Dungeon Museum, where a live reenactment of a witch trial takes place. 

By: Jessica McKenzie 

Credits and Sources:

Games, Alison.Witchcraft in Early North America.New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2010.

L. Annika. “The Mystery of the Salem Witch Trials.” The Salem Times. The University of Chicago. Accessed September 13, 2016. http://people.ucls.uchicago.edu/~snekros/The%20Salem%20Times/The_Salem_Times_of_1693/Culture_%26_Beliefs.html

Witch Dungeon Museum. “The Most Exciting Experience in Salem.” Witch Dungeon Museum. Accessed September 13, 2016. http://www.witchdungeon.com/witchdungeon.html