When, how, why did the salem witch trials end?
The trials came to an end because some people became uneasy about the validity of the evidence being presented at the trials, and began to voice concerns. Increase Mather, who had originally been one of the main promoters of the trials, preached a sermon in which he suggested that the devil could appear in the guise of an honest person as well as a dishonest one (in other words, the accussers could be under th einfluence of the devil),so the testimony of ‘possessed’ people shold not be taken as proof, and he followed this up with a book. 14 other ministerss agreed with him, adding their view that “themore execrable the Crime is, the more critical care is to be used” in judging it. Together the men holding these views comprised a strong anti-persecution party in Massachusetts, which had developed in reaction to the witch hunt. In that same month of october 1692, they prevailed upon Governor Phips to halt the trials. Although he allowed another special court to convene briefly in early 1
