The events that occurred in Salem in 1692 were one of many witch hunts that occurred in a period of unrest between the early 14th century and the late 18th century beginning in Europe. Belief in the supernatural and specifically the belief in the devil’s practice of giving some humans the power to harm others in return for their loyalty spread throughout Europe and eventually to New England. Between 1692 and 1693, more than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft in Salem and 20 people were executed. This included 14 women, 6 men and 2 dogs. Yes, dogs were not exempt from the accusations. Five people also died in jail while awaiting execution. The specific cause of the trials is unknown, however people continue to speculate to this day.

Sources: 

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  Buzzfeed Unsolved- The Haunting of the Salem Witch Trials https://youtu.be/B_ZaFmX72EY
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  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/unraveling-mysteries-tituba-salem-witch-trials-180956960/
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  https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-witch-trials
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  https://www.britannica.com/event/Salem-witch-trials
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  https://allthatsinteresting.com/salem-witch-trials-causes
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  https://historyofmassachusetts.org/salem-witch-trials-victims/
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  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials
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  Sarah Osborne - Wikipedia
• 
  Witch Tests: 10 Historical Tests for Proving Someone Was a Witch (historycollection.com)
• Photo source: 5 Notable Women Hanged in the Salem Witch Trials - HISTORY