What really happened during the Salem Witch Trials - Brian A. Pavlac

Dig into how the infamous Salem Witch Trials began and why they remain a cautionary tale of the dangers of groupthink and scapegoating.

--

You’ve been accused of a crime you did not commit. It’s impossible to prove your innocence. If you insist that you’re innocent anyway, you’ll likely be found guilty and executed. But if you confess, apologize, and implicate others, you’ll go free. This was the choice facing those accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts in the 17th century. How did this happen? Brian A. Pavlac investigates.

Lesson by Brian A. Pavlac, directed by Lucy Animation Studio.

Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Christophe Dessalles, Janie Jackson, Dr Luca Carpinelli, Heather Slater, Yuh Saito, Quentin Le Menez, Mattia Veltri, Fabian Amels, Sandra Tersluisen, PnDAA, Hugo Legorreta, Zhexi Shan, Gustavo Mendoza, Bárbara Nazaré, Josh Engel, Natalia Rico, Andrea Feliz, Eysteinn Guðnason, Bernardo Paulo, Victor E Karhel, Sydney Evans, Latora Slydell, Oyuntsengel Tseyen-Oidov, Noel Situ, Elliot Poulin, emily lam, Juan, Jordan Tang, Kent Logan, Alexandra Panzer, Laura Cameron Keith, Jen, Ellen Spertus, Cailin Ramsey, Markus Goldhacker, Leora Allen, Andras Radnothy, Chris, Arpita Singh, Vijayalakshmi, Marc Bilodeau, Peng, Tzu-Hsiang, paul g mohney, Maya Toll, Sebastian Regez, Bruno Hannud, Andreas Voltios, Shubham Arora, Ugur Doga Sezgin and Akinola Emmanuel.

[operleutnant]

I honestly love that the artist went for almost a horror movie aspect. Especially when talking about the sisters and how they feel like the twins from The Shining

[ahyes]

Epileptic girl: has seizure
Literally the whole of Salem: your free trial of living has expired

[diyadev]

What I love about the animation is that it’s the town locals who have a more ‘witchy’ appearance, as opposed to the accused witches, who look like normal
people.

[upperlaurel]

I used to think it was crazy to think people believed this back in the day with no evidence. Today I realize how easily people are duped with zero evidence.

[gretawogsland]

When your mom says "you won't get in trouble if you tell the truth" when you did nothing.

[justinemadigan]

Daughter: *misbehaves*
Mom: "No dessert for you, darling."
Daughter: "SHE'S A WITCH!"

[nwec]

My dad use to tell me that “Witches” was just people smarter kind of like scientists, and they was hung because the ‘Normal’ people didn’t understand science back then, or something like that lol

[michellecrocker]

For a religious group, they had people violating “thou shalt not lie” a lot in this case

[jari]

Executioner: So are you a witch?

Me: *Yesn't*

[jjlikestea]

A random person: I’m not a witch!
The whole town: that’s exactly what a witch would say

[zychanirichard]

"Are you a witch?"

"No, I'm the Governor's wife"

"Okay, we're done."

[LunarBlossom-YueHua]

it breaks my heart to think that those children and people they deem off could have just been neurodivergent and in need of compassion and understanding, not bloody witch trials that cost them their lives.

[mohasahal]

Everyone gangsta till the governor's wife is accused.
Seriously though why is it necessarily the case that stupidity goes on and on till some official's life is threatened ?

[lacy]

Imagine being blamed for doing witchcraft, then centuries later the same town/village makes profit out of it 💀.

[leemurray]

Lived in Boston for 20 years and visited a lot of the witch related tours, museums, archives etc. The town was Salem Village which is now called Danvers. The girls were playing out based on stories they heard from Tituba, and playing pranks. They kept it up after it got serious among the adults out of fear, just like everyone else. But the real thing going on there was that some people saw it as an opportunity to grab land from their neighbors. Started with accusing social outsiders and grew. If you were accused, you lost your land and the accusers were grabbing it. The part about not being able to prove your innocence and being killed if you tried (Puritan mindset) was the reason they could get away with it but also the reason why they couldn't stop the situation until the governor rushed back from Maine when his wife was accused and immediately put a stop to the insanity. They even hanged a dog for chrissakes.

[kennethsummers]

The emotional pain of being accused of something you didn't do, and then you're unable to prove yourself...

[gilla]

“I saw her doing witchcraft!” Girl how you know what that looks like 🍵👀

[mamacito]

Kids then: We are being bewitched!
The authorities: We believe you, kill the witches!!!
Kids later: we are being abused by powerful people
Authorities: No you're not, shut up

Humans have issues finding balance

[iatetonkatsu]

Nevermind the horrible history, The art is so great and done so beautifully.

[HH-qrsv]

Some girl in Salem : hey look at this card trick I learned
All of the town : BLASPHEMY !