Final answer:
The Salem witch trials took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, primarily in Salem Village, known today as Danvers. These events occurred in 1692 and were part of a Puritan response to perceived devil's work, leading to a series of trials and the execution of several individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts, specifically taking place primarily in Salem Village, now known as Danvers. The trials commenced in the spring of 1692 following the illness of several local girls, including the daughter and niece of Minister Samuel Parris. The girls' strange fits and behaviors were attributed to the devil's work, a belief that was deeply ingrained in the Puritan mindset of the time.
Interestingly, the Salem witch trials, while severe and resulting in the execution of several individuals, were considered mild compared to contemporaneous witch hunts in Europe. The convicted 'witches' in Salem were hanged, not burned, and in a later act of contrition, the Massachusetts courts annulled the convictions and granted indemnity to the victims' families.