The American Witch Trials P2

Last week I began speaking about the American Witch Trials. There is no defense for these trials. Nevertheless, a significant question to ask is why did the trials stop after only 27 deaths? After all, witch trials were occurring across the Old World at that time, trials that resulted in 500,000 deaths in Europe — including 30,000 in England, 75,000 in France, and 100,000 in Germany. Additionally, the European trials lasted for decades, while American trials lasted just 18 months. Thus, comparatively speaking America, even with its failures, was still quite advanced when compared to Europe. But why were there fewer deaths in American trials, and why did the trials end more quickly.

The American Witch trials were brought to a close because Christian leaders such as the Rev. John Wise, the Rev. Increase Mather and Thomas Brattle confronted the civil leaders. They pointed out that the rules of evidence and due process set forth in the Bible were not being followed in the courts, thus convincing civil officials to end those trials.

Content sourced from The American Story, The Beginnings by Dave Barton & Tim Barton