A bunch of bullshit trials back in 1692. A bunch of women and men were hanged because of a bunch of little girls trying to get attention. The evidence that was taken was the girls' word that other people's "specters" or spirits, that no one else could see had attacked them. Their religion made them dumbasses and caused them to judge unreasonably and murder innocent people with no evidence whatsoever.
by sphincterboyyo October 29, 2009
1692, in Salem (now Danvers), Massachusetts, fourteen women and six men were executed on charges of witchcraft because of the antics of a group of girls and young women.
The girls, who were most likely acting and seeking attention, had been screaming hysterically, thrashing about, uttering strange sounds, and were generally acting in very aberrant ways. Owing to the already tense atmosphere of the village, people suspected witchcraft and, upon hearing the testimonies from these "possessed" girls, they were willing to follow whatever the girls said. The Puritans, as humorless and superstitious as always, were convinced that God had abandoned them.
By October of that year, nineteen people were hanged, one man was pressed to death under a board weighted with rocks, and hundreds had been jailed. It was only when the girls began accusing ministers, men, children, the wealthy... and the governor's wife of witchcraft that the authorities finally intervened and stopped the trials.
The girls, who were most likely acting and seeking attention, had been screaming hysterically, thrashing about, uttering strange sounds, and were generally acting in very aberrant ways. Owing to the already tense atmosphere of the village, people suspected witchcraft and, upon hearing the testimonies from these "possessed" girls, they were willing to follow whatever the girls said. The Puritans, as humorless and superstitious as always, were convinced that God had abandoned them.
By October of that year, nineteen people were hanged, one man was pressed to death under a board weighted with rocks, and hundreds had been jailed. It was only when the girls began accusing ministers, men, children, the wealthy... and the governor's wife of witchcraft that the authorities finally intervened and stopped the trials.
The Salem Witch Trials would probably not have gone very far had the girls named very respectable people first, but they first named outcasts, people who were already suspect by the community, such as Sarah Good (an irritable beggar) and Sarah Osborne (a bedridden old woman who rarely went to church). But soon the accused included highly unlikely people: the arrests of Rebecca Nurse (a pious, elderly matriarch, highly respected by the community) and Martha Corey (pious and respected, but skeptical about the credibility of the girls) shocked Salem; it meant that anybody could be a witch.
The youngest accused: four-year-old Dorothy Good, the daughter of Sarah Good, who probably confessed to be with her mother in jail. While spared, Dorothy lost her mother and was traumatized for the rest of her life.
Now the Salem Witch Trials are invoked to recall Joseph McCarthy's legacy or any other irrational panic that leads to scapegoats.
The youngest accused: four-year-old Dorothy Good, the daughter of Sarah Good, who probably confessed to be with her mother in jail. While spared, Dorothy lost her mother and was traumatized for the rest of her life.
Now the Salem Witch Trials are invoked to recall Joseph McCarthy's legacy or any other irrational panic that leads to scapegoats.
by Lorelili October 31, 2010
When some asshole starts trouble with you, and then sets you up the be the bad guy and take all the heat.
One of the boss's stupid bitches starts a crazy arguement with you at work, and then runs to the boss, who she is fucking, to get you in trouble.
KATE: What happened Jane?
JANE: Salem Witch Trial, Kate. One week off with no pay.
KATE: But Alice started it! You're right -- Salem!
JANE: Yea, maybe I better start fucking the boss so I don't get fired.
KATE & JANE: NNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KATE: What happened Jane?
JANE: Salem Witch Trial, Kate. One week off with no pay.
KATE: But Alice started it! You're right -- Salem!
JANE: Yea, maybe I better start fucking the boss so I don't get fired.
KATE & JANE: NNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Jane Curtain July 9, 2006
cherisse's favorite place to live. she lives on a park bench in the middle of salem witch trials and cries consistently as she masturbates in front of all of the townspeople. and the ghosts. the ghosts are awesome. SOMEONE GET THE SPATULA!
by Katiehjadhsaj November 29, 2007
A sexual act. What you do is, dunk a girl\'s head in a toilet, and as you do it, you pound her, all the while screaming \"she\'s a witch!\" And occasionally flush to give her air. If she is found innocent, she will be freed, if she is guilty, she will be burned at the stake.
Dude, last night I picked up a chick at a club and performed the \"Salem Witch Trial,\" turns out she was a witch.
by Ronco, the brand new god April 27, 2005