TODAY IN HISTORY: Salem Witch Trials (Aug. 19, 1692)

On August 19, 1692, five people were executed in Salem, Massachusetts, after being convicted of witchcraft during the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Those executed included one woman, Martha Carrier, and four men: George Burroughs, John Willard, George Jacobs, and John Proctor. Their deaths were part of a wave of hysteria that swept through the Puritan community, sparked by mysterious afflictions reported by young girls in the town. This frenzy led to a brutal witch hunt in Salem, where accusations rapidly spread beyond social outcasts to respected members of the community.

The Salem Witch Trials, fueled by fear, superstition, and “spectral evidence,” targeted people from all backgrounds, including social outsiders and even individuals of African descent. Initially, marginalized people were the first accused, but soon the accusations crossed all social and economic boundaries. In total, around 62 people were arrested, with many tortured into confessing to witchcraft. The courts relied on spectral evidence—testimonies that a spirit or apparition of the accused had appeared to torment victims—which played a key role in condemning the accused. By the end of the trials, 19 people had been executed, leaving a dark legacy that serves as a cautionary tale about mass hysteria, prejudice, and injustice.