In picture: a woman being burned at the stake during the Trials. [picture source 2]
The trials.
The trials only lasted about one year. In that year, many people were convicted and were put to death in name of riddance of the the witches and wizards. It all started over a young minister's daughter falling ill. The doctors deemed it witchcraft because their medical field was not that advanced as it is today. The hysteria then started. People were saying their neighbors were witches to get their crops and such. Anything that you did and said could end up being used to convict you. It was ended by the changing of courts, and then the imprisoned were pardoned. This ended up changing the way people's rights were during trials.
Direct Background of the puritans.
While many consider the Puritans to be a wholly good society who were simply looking for religious freedom, this is not true. The Puritans, in Europe, grew tired of the new found reformations in the church, and decided to take their hate of it, and escape to the new world to pursue their own form of religious freedom which was not all that free. Settling in New England, their new religion stated that the Bible was the absolute law of God, and they sought to keep this without freedom of interpretation and fought to purify the church in a way which they thought was best. One important fact of their society happened to be their strong theocracy, which stated that the church and state were the same thing, and that the church ruled over their settlement. Some of the things which they brought to America were Harvard, beginning societies in the Northern half of America,when some split off from their difficult religion, the Quaker faith, and also, the terrible fear epidemic which would come to be the Salem Witch Trials.
background of the salem witch trials.
In 17th century colonial North America, the supernatural was part of everyday life, for there was a strong belief that Satan was present and active on Earth. This concept emerged in Europe around the fifteenth century and spread to North America when it was colonized. Witchcraft was then used by peasants, who invoked particular charms for farming and agriculture. Over time, the idea of white magic transformed into dark magic and became associated with demons and evil spirits. From 1560 to 1670, witchcraft persecutions became common as superstitions became associated with the devil. In "Against Modern Sadducism" (1668), Joseph Glanvill claimed that he could prove the existence of witches and ghosts of the supernatural realm. Glanvill wrote about the "denial of the bodily resurrection, and the supernatural spirits" [Glanvill source]
how many people were executed in the salem witch trials?
Well, nineteen people were hung on Gallows Hill on 1692. On June 10, Bridget Bishop was hung. On July 19, five more people: Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Good, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe, and Sarah Wildes. On August 19, once again five more people. George Burroughs, Martha Carrier, John Willard, George Jacobs, Sr, and John Proctor. On September 22, Martha Corey, Mary Eastey, Ann Pudeator, Alice Parker, Mary Parker, Wilmott Redd, Margaret Scott, and Samuel Wardwell.
One accused wizard, Giles Corey, was pressed to death on September 19 when he failed to plead guilty or not guilty in trial.
The other accused witches died in prison before they got a death warrant (an example of one can be seen below): Sarah Osborn, Roger Toothaker, Lynddia Dustin, and Ann Foster (however as many as thirteen other inmates may have died in prison, but there is no sources that can actually show this.)
So 24 actual deaths, and allegedly 37 deaths in total.
One accused wizard, Giles Corey, was pressed to death on September 19 when he failed to plead guilty or not guilty in trial.
The other accused witches died in prison before they got a death warrant (an example of one can be seen below): Sarah Osborn, Roger Toothaker, Lynddia Dustin, and Ann Foster (however as many as thirteen other inmates may have died in prison, but there is no sources that can actually show this.)
So 24 actual deaths, and allegedly 37 deaths in total.
Death warrant example.
(Death Warrant for Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe, and Sarah Wilds)
To Goerge: Corwine Gent'n High Sheriff of the county of Essex
Whereas Sarah Good Wife of William Good of Salem Village Rebecka Nurse wife of Francis Nurse of Salem Village Susanna Martin of Amesbury Widow Elizabeth How wife of James How of Ipswich Sarah Wild wife of John Wild of Topsfield all of the County of Essex in thier Maj'ts Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Att A Court of Oyer & Terminer held by Adjournment for Our Severaign Lord & Lady Kind Wiliam & Queen Mary for the said County of Essex at Salem in the s'd County onf the 29th day of June [torn] were Severaly arrigned on Several Indictments for the horrible Crime of Witchcraft by them practised & Committed On Severall persons and pleading not guilty did for thier Tryall put themselves on God & Thier Countrey whereupon they were Each of them found & brought in Guilty by the Jury that passed On them according to their respective Indictments and Sentence of death did then pass upon them as the Law directs Execution whereof yet remains to be done: Those are Therefore in thier Maj'ties name William & Mary now King & Queen over England &ca: to will & Command you that upon Tuesday next being the 19th day for [torn] Instant July between the houres of Eight & [torn] in [torn] forenoon the same day you Safely conduct the s'd Sarah Good Rebecka Nurse Susann Martin Elizabeth Howe & Sarah Wild From thier Maj'ties goal in Salem afores'd to the place of Execution & there Cause them & Every of them to be hanged by the Neck untill they be dead and of the doings herein make return to the Clerke of the said Court & this precept and hereof you are not to fail at your perill and this Shall be your sufficient Warrant given under my hand & seale at Boston th 12't day of July in the fourth year of Reign of our Soveraigne Lord & Layd Wm & Mary King and Queen &ca:
*Wm Stoughton
Annoq Dom. 1692
(Reverse)
Salem July 19th 1692
I caused the within mentioned persons to be Executed according to the Tenour of the with[in] warrant
*George Corwin Sherif
To Goerge: Corwine Gent'n High Sheriff of the county of Essex
Whereas Sarah Good Wife of William Good of Salem Village Rebecka Nurse wife of Francis Nurse of Salem Village Susanna Martin of Amesbury Widow Elizabeth How wife of James How of Ipswich Sarah Wild wife of John Wild of Topsfield all of the County of Essex in thier Maj'ts Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Att A Court of Oyer & Terminer held by Adjournment for Our Severaign Lord & Lady Kind Wiliam & Queen Mary for the said County of Essex at Salem in the s'd County onf the 29th day of June [torn] were Severaly arrigned on Several Indictments for the horrible Crime of Witchcraft by them practised & Committed On Severall persons and pleading not guilty did for thier Tryall put themselves on God & Thier Countrey whereupon they were Each of them found & brought in Guilty by the Jury that passed On them according to their respective Indictments and Sentence of death did then pass upon them as the Law directs Execution whereof yet remains to be done: Those are Therefore in thier Maj'ties name William & Mary now King & Queen over England &ca: to will & Command you that upon Tuesday next being the 19th day for [torn] Instant July between the houres of Eight & [torn] in [torn] forenoon the same day you Safely conduct the s'd Sarah Good Rebecka Nurse Susann Martin Elizabeth Howe & Sarah Wild From thier Maj'ties goal in Salem afores'd to the place of Execution & there Cause them & Every of them to be hanged by the Neck untill they be dead and of the doings herein make return to the Clerke of the said Court & this precept and hereof you are not to fail at your perill and this Shall be your sufficient Warrant given under my hand & seale at Boston th 12't day of July in the fourth year of Reign of our Soveraigne Lord & Layd Wm & Mary King and Queen &ca:
*Wm Stoughton
Annoq Dom. 1692
(Reverse)
Salem July 19th 1692
I caused the within mentioned persons to be Executed according to the Tenour of the with[in] warrant
*George Corwin Sherif