When did the salem witch trials end?
The Salem witch trials, which began in 1692 (also known as the Salem witch hunt and the Salem witchcraft episode), resulted in a number of convictions and executions for witchcraft in both Salem Village and Salem Town, Massachusetts. Some have argued that it was the result of a period of factional infighting and Puritan witch hysteria which led to the executions of 20 people (14 women, 6 men) and the imprisonment of between 175 and 200 people. In addition to those executed at least five people died in prison. Background In 1692, Salem Village was torn by internal disputes between neighbors who disagreed about the choice of Samuel Parris as their first ordained minister. In January 1692, the residents of York, Maine, were attacked by Wabanaki Native Americans and many massacred or taken captive at the “Eastward” frontier of Maine, echoing the brutality of King Philip’s War of 1675-76. Increasing family size fueled disputes over land between neighbors and within families, especially on t
