The Accused: The Salem Witch Trials

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Many of the implicated were social outcasts and easy targets for the allegations of witchcraft. It was not difficult for the people of Salem to get behind these accusations of peoples involvement with witchcraft based on many of their unwanted presence in the community. “Many historians believe the girl’s parents were egging them on and encouraging them to accuse specific people in the community that they didn’t like in an act of revenge” (Brooks). There were a couple distinctive ways that evidence was admitted into the trials; all of which were obviously not fail proof. The first was a type of test where the accused were asked to simply recite a prayer. This was of course a hugely corrupt way because many the accusers were known to scream …show more content…

The second type of accepted evidence was physical. It was believed that, “[a]ny birthmarks, warts, moles, or other blemishes were seen as possible portals through which Satan could enter a body” ("Witchcraft in Salem [ushistory.org]"). Third was witness testimony; anyone who can attribute a telling enough story could get their target easily convicted. Confession was one of the last kind of evidence used in the trials. It seems foolish that anyone who had the slightest idea of what was happening during that time would not want to confess, but it was actually the best defense for those innocently accused, being that none of the confessors were executed. “A confessor would tearfully throw himself or herself on the mercy of the town and court and promise repentance” ("Witchcraft in Salem [ushistory.org]"). None of the evidence presented during the trials had any real factual proof behind it and most of it was extremely coerced to fit the story of the more favorable side. Over the period of a couple of months countless more were jailed and kept in overcrowded dungeons chained to the walls because jail officials believed this would prevent their spirits from leaving and tormenting their victims. The after effect that the trials had on its victims and victims’ families is the most sustainable and heartbreaking part of the story and in

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