Salem Witch Trials (1692-1693)

In colonial Massachusetts in 1692, a group of adolescent girls, including Abigail Williams and Betty Parris, exhibited mysterious fits described as beyond natural disease. These events led to the infamous Salem witch trials, a series of hearings resulting in the execution of 20 citizens accused of witchcraft. The episode serves as a cautionary tale in American history about the perils of isolationism, religious extremism, false accusations, and lapses in due process.