Excerpt
Introduction
The year was 1692. The small village of Salem in Massachusetts was quiet, its houses lined up along dirt roads, smoke rising from chimneys, and fields stretching out beyond the town. People lived simple lives, working hard to survive in a world filled with long winters and strict rules. Most families owned farms, and everyone—children included—had chores to do. Church was the center of everything, and rules weren’t just rules. They were seen as the laws of God.
Life wasn’t easy, but it was predictable. That is, until something strange happened.
It started with two young girls. They weren’t much older than you. Betty Parris and Abigail Williams began acting in ways no one could explain. They screamed. They twisted their bodies into strange shapes. They spoke nonsense and claimed to see things no one else could see. People whispered that it wasn’t normal. Some thought they were sick. Others wondered if something darker was at play.
Then came the worst thought of all: witchcraft.
In Salem, witches weren’t characters in stories. They were real—at least, that’s what people believed. They thought witches made deals with the devil, used magic to harm others, and could disguise themselves as ordinary people. It was a terrifying idea, and one that people had feared for years. When Betty and Abigail said witches were hurting them, the town listened.
It didn’t take long before fingers started pointing.
At first, three women were accused. One of them was a servant named Tituba, who told stories about spirits and magic. Another was Sarah Good, a woman who was poor and often begged for food. The third was Sarah Osborne, who had broken social rules by not attending church regularly. To some, it seemed obvious. These women didn’t fit in. Maybe they really were witches.
The trials began, and the fear spread like wildfire. More and more people were accused—neighbors, friends, even family members. Some tried to prove their innocence. Others confessed, even if they weren’t guilty, hoping to save themselves. The town was no longer peaceful. It was full of whispers, fear, and people wondering who would be next.
How did things spiral so far out of control? Why did people believe witches were real? And how did it all finally end?
This is the story of the Salem Witch Trials, a time when fear took over and led to one of the most famous and tragic events in American history.
The year was 1692. The small village of Salem in Massachusetts was quiet, its houses lined up along dirt roads, smoke rising from chimneys, and fields stretching out beyond the town. People lived simple lives, working hard to survive in a world filled with long winters and strict rules. Most families owned farms, and everyone—children included—had chores to do. Church was the center of everything, and rules weren’t just rules. They were seen as the laws of God.
Life wasn’t easy, but it was predictable. That is, until something strange happened.
It started with two young girls. They weren’t much older than you. Betty Parris and Abigail Williams began acting in ways no one could explain. They screamed. They twisted their bodies into strange shapes. They spoke nonsense and claimed to see things no one else could see. People whispered that it wasn’t normal. Some thought they were sick. Others wondered if something darker was at play.
Then came the worst thought of all: witchcraft.
In Salem, witches weren’t characters in stories. They were real—at least, that’s what people believed. They thought witches made deals with the devil, used magic to harm others, and could disguise themselves as ordinary people. It was a terrifying idea, and one that people had feared for years. When Betty and Abigail said witches were hurting them, the town listened.
It didn’t take long before fingers started pointing.
At first, three women were accused. One of them was a servant named Tituba, who told stories about spirits and magic. Another was Sarah Good, a woman who was poor and often begged for food. The third was Sarah Osborne, who had broken social rules by not attending church regularly. To some, it seemed obvious. These women didn’t fit in. Maybe they really were witches.
The trials began, and the fear spread like wildfire. More and more people were accused—neighbors, friends, even family members. Some tried to prove their innocence. Others confessed, even if they weren’t guilty, hoping to save themselves. The town was no longer peaceful. It was full of whispers, fear, and people wondering who would be next.
How did things spiral so far out of control? Why did people believe witches were real? And how did it all finally end?
This is the story of the Salem Witch Trials, a time when fear took over and led to one of the most famous and tragic events in American history.