Summary: The Salem Witch Trials

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During the Salem witch trials many innocent people were convicted and executed for witchcraft. The evidence used against the accused was weak and in many cases completely fabricated to purge the village of unwanted citizens. Three examples of this are the cases of George Burroughs, John Willard, and Giles Cory.

George Burroughs left England for Massachusetts early in his life. Once in Massachusetts he attended Harvard university,graduated with honors, married into wealth, and fought multiple Indian tribes unharmed. Burroughs served as a minister in Salem village from 1680 to 1683. During his time as a minister his salary slowly dwindled down to nothing at all. As a result of not having a salary he borrowed money from Josh Putnam Sr. The Putnam's were an influential puritan family who were often the accusers in cases of witchcraft. …show more content…
Upon moving back to maine Burroughs was ordered by Josh Putnam Sr to return back to the village to resolve his debt. When Burroughs returned to the village he was jailed for one night and paid the salary owed to him. As a result of his salary being paid he was able to resolve his debts. Although the conflict was officially resolved the Putnams still took issue with Burroughs for leaving his post. The same people that had sued him ten years earlier claimed to have seen him commit extraordinary feats of strength and doubted his ability to fight the indians without harm to himself. Burroughs was the only minister who was executed as a result of the trial. Before Burroughs was hanged he recited The Lord's Prayer which according to their scripture meant he was not a witch, the crowd objected but the execution

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