Description

Salem, 1692: Two young girls living in the household of one of the town’s ministers are acted strangely—having fits. The doctor is called and he tells the minister that his girls are suffering from the action of the Devil’s ‘Evil Hand’ upon them.  Join University of Maryland historian Dr. Richard Bell for a deep dive into witch-hunting in early America. We’ll begin at the beginning: What did people in colonial America believe about witch-craft and how did they try to hunt it and fight it? What were the hall-marks of an American witch-hunt and why is the outbreak of witch-hunting in one sleepy port town in Massachusetts in 1692 still so well-known today? We’ll examine that infamous episode in depth, probing its most troubling corners. Why did that tragic episode in Salem claim so many innocent lives? Did anyone face justice for their role in perpetrating this outrage? And how have historians tried to explain the peculiar dynamics, impact, and legacy of what happened in Salem?