Growing up in the United States we have all heard at some time in our lives about the Salem witch trials. With that being said I read about Rebecca Nurse’s trial in Salem, Massachusetts. Rebecca was born February 21, 162. She later married and had four boys and four daughters. She was devoted to her church and well respected in her community. She was 71 years old when she was accused of witchcraft. She was called a simple women by many and had several people in the community speak up in her defense against the accusations. One of Nurse’s was the Ann Putnam and her 12 year old daughter Ann. It was said that at her trial many in attendance stated that they were being afflicted by her. If she leaned back some would say they were in so much pain as if their back was broken, if she leaned forward on the bar in front of her their breast were bruised. People became so afraid during her trial that many did not know if the person sitting next to them were under the influence of witchcraft. On that day Rebecca Nelson went to prison. She maintained her innocence and was found not guilty at her trial. The jury had misinterpreted a piece of evidence and Nurse was asked to explain a statement that she had made. When she did not respond her verdict of not guilty was changed to guilty. Her family as well as dozens of friends and neighbors spoke in her defense Governor Phips reprieved Rebecca Nurse. People in attendance began to protest again and this time Rebecca Nelson was hung. She died on July 19.
I choose this topic because the Salem witch trial was responsible for the deaths of many who were falsely accused of being witches. It feel that many of these people did not have chance of beating this because fear is a very powerful thing. I think that fear of what they did not understand was often
