Witches Through History

In the 16th and 17th centuries, many women living in colonial America were accused of witchcraft. The accusations were rooted in mistrust of neighbors, particularly women who were poor and without power or influence. One of the most famous periods of fear and anxiety over witchcraft took place in Salem, Massachusetts, where over a dozen women were tried as witches and executed. Listen to an author discuss the role of stereotypes and the social and cultural conditions that led to the Salem witch trials.