Final answer:
The Puritans in the Salem Witch Trials believed in the existence of witches and accused and executed many individuals on charges of witchcraft.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief in witches was prevalent during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. The Puritans, including influential figures like Cotton Mather, believed in the existence of witches and that they were allied with the Devil to carry out evil deeds. The Puritan authorities executed numerous people on charges of witchcraft during this period.