The Salem Witch Trials Timeline

By alexbilliot
  • War With France

    War With France

    Started by King William, strained Salem's resources with refuges from places more impacted by the war like New York and Quebec.
  • Trouble Begins

    Trouble Begins

    Abigail and Elizabeth start showing signs of supernatural afflictions.
  • Trials Begin

    Trials Begin

    Girls name first witches starting the witch trials.
  • Tituba's Confesion

    Tituba's Confesion

    Created Tension in Salem and got the ball rolling on the mob mentality.
  • Special Court Created

    Special Court Created

    Named the Oyer and Terminer court meaning to hear and to decide. Bridget Bishop first case.
  • Minister Cotton Mather asks for spectral evidence to not be taken

    Minister Cotton Mather asks for spectral evidence to not be taken

    The court mostly ignored the request even though he was well respected.
  • Increase Mather, President of Harvard denounces Spectral Evidence

    Increase Mather, President of Harvard denounces Spectral Evidence

    “It were better that ten suspected witches should escape than one innocent person be condemned.” This released many accused and dissolved the Court of Oyer.

  • Court Orders day of Fasting and soul-searching

  • The court declares the trials unlawful

  • Bill restores good names and gives 600 pounds in restitution to heirs

  • The Crucible is created

    The Crucible is created

    Written by Arthur Miller it uses the Salem trials as an allegory for the communist scare in the 50s.
  • Massachusetts formally apologizes

    Massachusetts formally apologizes

  • Work Cited

    Blumberg, Jess. “A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials.”
    Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 23 Oct. 2007,
    www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-
    witch-trials-175162489/.