You are a witch! No, you're a witch! In Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, the accusations began. Neighbor turned against neighbor, friends turned against friends, and even husbands and wives turned against each other. However, all these people were innocent. They were all accused of being witches. Over 200 people were accused of being witches and 20 were killed due to these accusations (In Search of History). In Salem, Massachusetts, many people were falsely accused and some died because they were accused of being witches, even though witches do not exist. In Salem, Massachusetts, there was mass hysteria caused by some girls. It all began in the house of Reverend Parris, in 1692. During a long, cold winter, one day Reverend Parris's 9-year-old daughter Elizabeth and her 11-year-old granddaughter Abigail began shivering and having seizures. They screamed and twisted their bodies into otherworldly shapes. Ann Putnam Jr., 11, also had similar attacks. According to the town doctor there was only one explanation, Charmed (a short story)! It is not known what caused the three girls to have seizures and contort their bodies into strange shapes. There are many theories as to what caused these attacks. However, no one knows what really happened. The girls could have had a disease that was not known about at the time. All we know is that something made them act strangely. From there the accusations began. At first the girls accused some of the lowest residents of society. The girls first accused Tituba, Reverend Parris' slave, Sara Good, the town beggar, and Sarah Osborn, a bedridden old lady (Schanzer 28). The citizens didn't think about it and didn't care that those people were put in prison. The girls kept blaming more and more... middle of paper... each time they never did. In the end, 20 people died and many, many more were imprisoned. Everyone in Salem was devastated. Many people noticed that they were wrong all the time. Most of those involved in the trials apologized and were forgiven for their actions. In Salem, Massachusetts, many people were falsely accused and some died because they were accused of being witches, even though witches do not exist. Works Cited Blumberg, Jess. "A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials." Smithsonian. Np, October 24, 2007. Web. March 17, 2014. In Search of History: The Salem Witch Trials. Director Rob Blumenstein. History Channel, 1998. Film.Schanzer, Rosalyn. Charmed!: The Absolutely True Story of the Salem Disaster. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 2011. Print.