A little over 300 years ago the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692 occurred. These events sent a message to all future generations about the dangers of intolerance and religious bigotry. The young girls' accusations led to the death of 20 innocent people, and two dogs, and the imprisonment of 100s more. Only 25 of the 142 people accused of Witchcraft in 1692 were described as living in Salem or its immediate environments. (Boyer, 190) The Salem Witch-hunt was the largest in North America. It ended three centuries of Witch-hunts in Europe and American Colonies.
In Salem ordinary people found themselves not only accused of Witchcraft but also imprisoned, tried and convicted of this sinful practice. There was no real evidence against the people being accused of Witchcraft just the make believe stories of the hysterical "circle girls" whom claimed these people were Witches. Some people were accused because they were troublesome neighbors and it was thought that this was a good way of getting rid of them.
The winters of Salem were long and difficult, and children were bored with nothing to do. The children rarely were allowed outside except to go to Sunday services. Since the people of Salem Village and Salem Town were of the Puritan beliefs, the girls' activities included sewing, churning butter, and reciting Bible lessons. (Linde, 10)
