Understanding the Salem Witch Trials

What event triggered the start of the Salem Witch Trials?

• A smallpox epidemic

• Two girls exhibiting strange behaviors

• A legal dispute over land rights

• A conflict with neighboring towns

Why were the accused women in Salem easy targets for witchcraft accusations?

• They had confessed to witchcraft

• They were outsiders with different backgrounds

• They were all wealthy and powerful

• They were related to the accusers

What was a common consequence for those who pleaded guilty to witchcraft?

• They were immediately released

• They lost all their property and became social outcasts

• They were given a fair trial

• They were exiled to another town

What eventually led to the decline of the Salem Witch Trials?

• A successful rebellion by the accused

• A new law banning witch trials

• The arrival of a new governor

• The lack of concrete evidence and growing sympathy for victims

What lesson can be learned from the Salem Witch Trials?

• The benefits of mass hysteria in solving social issues

• The need for more severe punishments for crimes

• The dangers of personal biases and fear of those who are different

• The importance of strict laws against witchcraft