Event

Salem witch trials

1692–1693 · 17th century

The Salem witch trials were a series of prosecutions for witchcraft in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1692 and 1693, centred on Salem Village and the town of Salem. Set off by the fits of young girls, accusations spread to more than 200 people. A special court convicted many on spectral evidence, and nineteen were hanged and one pressed to death before Governor William Phips halted the trials.

Salem witch trials
Image: Joseph E., ca. 1837-1914, artist. · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 1 state history

Province of Massachusetts Bay

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Salem witch trials. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/salem-witch-trials
MLA
“Salem witch trials.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/salem-witch-trials. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Salem witch trials.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/salem-witch-trials.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Salem witch trials’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/salem-witch-trials (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻