The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts, where people were accused of practicing witchcraft. The panic began with a group of girls in Salem Village exhibiting strange behaviors and accusing local women of witchcraft. These accusations led to a series of trials that were marked by paranoia, superstition, and a lack of due process.

During this period, 19 people were executed, and one man was pressed to death for refusing to enter a plea. Many others were imprisoned, and the trials sparked widespread fear and confusion. The events were fueled by a mix of personal vendettas, religious extremism, and societal tensions.

In the end, the trials were discredited, and many of those involved sought to make amends. The Salem witch trials are often cited as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mass hysteria, scapegoating, and the breakdown of justice.