During the winter of 1691-1692, Tituba, a West Indian slave owned by Samuel Parris, the Minister of Salem Village, began to tell strange tales and to practice magic with a group of girls from the village. Included in the group were Betty Parris, the nine year o1d daughter of Reverend Parris and her eleven year old cousin, Abigail Williams.

Before long, Betty Parris began to exhibit strange behavior: weeping, absent mindedness, inability to concentrate, staring, and making strange noises. Abigail soon showed many of the same behaviors. Alarmed by the girls' behavior, Reverend Parris consulted the local physician who decided that the girls' behavior was caused by the "spell of the evil hand". With other ministers, Parris tried to heal the afflicted girls with fasting and prayer, but this was not successful. After repeated pressures to name those who were tormenting them, the girls began to name people, and the witchcraft hysteria began. Soon others joined in accusing residents of Salem Village of practicing witchcraft.

There are various theories about why the girls accused others of witchcraft. One theory holds that the girls had eaten bread contaminated with a hallucinogenic fungus. Another contends that the accusations were the results of old jealousies among neighbors. Other theories held that the behavior of the girls was simply a fraudulent attempt of adolescents to call attention to themselves. The girls may have been bored and enjoyed the attention that they received and the power that they wielded. Some historians have suggested that the girls may have been inspired, stimulated, and encouraged by the Puritan clergy who used the Hysteria as a means to reclaim their declining power in the community.

Whatever the reasons for the Hysteria, by the time it had run it's course, about one hundred and fifty people had been accused of witchcraft. Nineteen people were hanged for witchcraft on Gallows Hill. And one - Giles Corey - had been pressed to death for refusing to plea in court.