logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2024
40m 52s

The Salem Witch Trials

History Hit
About this episode

More than 200 accused, 20 executed and a village plagued with hysteria. Were the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and 1693 the work of superstition, a power struggle, fungus or actual witchcraft? What makes them stand out in the history of witch trials?


In this episode, Don speaks to Jessica Parr from Northeastern University about the alleged crimes, persecution and lasting memory of the so-called Salem witches.


Jessica is a historian of the Early Modern Atlantic and author of 'Inventing George Whitefield: Race, Revivalism, and the Making of a Religious Icon.'


Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Tean Stewart-Murray. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for $1 per month for 3 months with code AMERICANHISTORY sign up at https://historyhit/subscription/ 


You can take part in our listener survey here.

Up next
Yesterday
Who was the Best President Ever?
What should we look for in a great President? Who was the greatest of all time? And is it harder for modern Presidents to make the top of the list? Don is joined by Professor Jeremi Suri, author of The Impossible Presidency and co-host of This Is Democracy.Edited by Sophie Gee an ... Show More
47m 9s
Oct 6
America's Invasion of Canada
'Canada ought to be the 14th colony' was a view held by many American revolutionaries. In the winter of 1775, Benedict Arnold led an incredible (if doomed) mission to make it happen.We're delighted to be joined again by Maj. Jonathan D. Bratten, historian for the Maine National G ... Show More
40m 24s
Oct 2
Who Was the Worst President Ever?
What makes a bad President? Who was the worst of all time? Don is joined by Professor Jeremi Suri, author of The Impossible Presidency and co-host of This Is Democracy.Next week we'll be looking at who is the best President ever!Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Freddy Chick. Se ... Show More
32m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
History of the Witch
It’s that time of year again, Halloween. A word which conjures up images of pumpkins, ghosts, and of course…witches. But have you ever wondered what the ancient origins of witchcraft is? How did the black-hat-broomstick stereotype emerge? And what causes the waves of witch trials ... Show More
32m 2s
Nov 2015
The Salem Witch Trials
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the outbreak of witch trials in Massachusetts in 1692-3, centred on Salem, which led to the execution of twenty people, with more dying in prison before or after trial. Some were men, including Giles Corey who died after being pressed with heavy ro ... Show More
45m 28s
Mar 2024
England's Worst Witch Trial: Pendle Witches
Inside the heavy walls of Lancaster Castle, the darkest & deadliest of English witch trials played out in 1612 - the Pendle Witch Trials. By the end ten people would be executed and many more lives ruined. At their heart was a little girl, Jennet Device, and a book, Daemonologie ... Show More
46m 18s
Oct 2022
136. The Salem Witch Trials Murders
On this episode of MWMH, Payton and Garrett discuss the Salem Witch Trials.LIVE ONLINE SHOW TICKETS HERE! https://www.moment.co/murderwithmyhusbandLinks:https://linktr.ee/murderwithmyhusband Ads:Simpli Safe: https://simplisafe.com/mwmhButcher Box: www.butcherbox.com/HUSBAND and u ... Show More
1h 1m
Jun 2021
Witches Among Us
June 10, 1692. Bridget Bishop is loaded into a two-wheeled cart and brought from her Salem jail cell to a pasture on a hill, where a rope is hanging from freshly-installed gallows. A crowd forms around her: law officers to read the death warrant, ministers to offer last rites, an ... Show More
29m 46s
Jul 2022
Witches
What comes to your mind when you think of a witch? Broomsticks? Black cats? Warts? Early modern witchcraft expert, John Callow, is Betwixt the Sheets with Kate to explain the history behind the stereotypes we have today. They also chat about the Bideford Witches, the last three w ... Show More
49m 48s
Sep 2023
Witches of St Osyth
In March 1582, a number of women from the small Essex village of St Osyth were hanged for the crime of witchcraft. Several others, including one man, died in prison, in what was a shocking and highly localised witch-hunt.  In this edition of Not Just the Tudors, Professor Suzanna ... Show More
57m 4s
Oct 2018
Episode 23: The Salem Witch Trials
Wow. Salem was wild back in the day, guys. You think you know about the infamous Salem Witch Trials but you have no idea how bananas it really got. We take a deep dive into the beginnings of this hysteria, the madness of the "trials" and executions and then we try to figure out h ... Show More
1h 21m