Question

How did the Salem witch trials begin? A couple of young girls accused others of witchcraft. The town of Salem fell ill under a mysterious illness. The reverend of Salem saw witches dancing in the woods. A fire broke out in Salem caused by disgruntled witches.

Answer 1

The Salem witch trials began primarily when a couple of young girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, began to exhibit strange behaviors and unexplained illnesses. This occurred in early 1692. The girls, particularly Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, accused several local women of witchcraft, claiming they had been bewitched.

The situation escalated, leading to widespread panic and a series of hearings and prosecutions, ultimately resulting in the execution of several accused individuals. The fear of witchcraft was fueled by a variety of social, religious, and political factors at the time, but the initial accusations by the young girls were a significant catalyst for the trials.

So, the closest option to the historical facts is that the accusations by the young girls were the starting point of the witch trials.