Final answer:
The Salem witch hunt in 1692 was a period of mass hysteria and persecution, resulting in the execution of 19 people and the deaths of several others. Accusations were based on spectral evidence and confessions obtained through intimidation. The witch hunt ended when influential individuals were accused and the credibility of spectral evidence was questioned.
Step-by-step explanation:
The witch hunt in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 was a period of mass hysteria and persecution where many people were accused of witchcraft. Here is a bulleted list of what happened during the witch hunt:
- A group of girls in Salem Village, including the daughter and niece of Minister Samuel Parris, began experiencing fits and claimed to have been practicing witchcraft.
- They accused Tituba, a Caribbean servant, of teaching them witchcraft.
- The accusations led to a series of trials where many people were accused of witchcraft based on spectral evidence and confessions obtained through intimidation.
- Nineteen people were executed, mostly women, and several others died in jail.
- The mass hysteria finally ended in 1693 when prominent individuals were accused, and people began to question the reliability of spectral evidence.