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Quizzes > History

Salem witch trials test: 15 questions on colonial history

Quick, free Salem witch trials trivia. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Alex LevenUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration featuring quill open book hourglass and witch hat on sky blue background for Salem Witch Trials quiz.

This quiz helps you check what you know about the Salem Witch Trials, from key people to turning points. Work through 15 quick questions and see instant results, plus a few facts you might not know. Want more practice? Try our witchcraft in Salem quiz, sharpen your literature links with The Crucible practice quiz, or go scene by scene with The Crucible act 1 quiz.

Where did the Salem Witch Trials take place?
New Amsterdam, New York
Jamestown, Virginia
Plymouth Colony
Salem Village, Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Salem Witch Trials occurred in Salem Village, part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1692. Tensions over local politics, religion, and economics contributed to the hysteria. Salem Town and other nearby communities were later involved, but the initial accusations started in the village itself. For more, see .
In what year did the main events of the Salem Witch Trials occur?
1692
1689
1720
1700
The most intense period of the Salem Witch Trials was 1692, when the majority of the accusations, examinations, and executions took place. The panic largely subsided by the end of that year. Later reflections and apologies began in 1693 and continued in the early 18th century. More details are available at .
Who was one of the first accusers whose fits of apparent possession sparked the initial investigations?
Mercy Lewis
Betty Parris
Bridget Bishop
Sarah Good
Betty Parris, the minister's daughter, was one of the first to exhibit strange behaviors and fits in early 1692, which led to accusations of witchcraft. Her cousin Abigail Williams also reported similar afflictions. Their behaviors prompted local authorities to investigate alleged witchcraft. See .
How many people were executed by hanging during the Salem Witch Trials?
19
21
20
15
Nineteen people were hanged for witchcraft in 1692, and one man, Giles Corey, was pressed to death. No one was legally executed after 1692, though some held in prison died. The hanging executions remain the most tragic hallmark of the trials. More can be found at .
What was the name of the special court established to hear the Salem witchcraft cases?
Court of Oyer and Terminer
Court of Admiralty
Court of Chancery
Court of Common Pleas
The Massachusetts General Court authorized a special tribunal called the Court of Oyer and Terminer in May 1692 to expedite the witchcraft trials. "Oyer and Terminer" is Anglo-French for "to hear and determine." This court handled the bulk of the 1692 trials before it was dissolved later that year. See .
Who was the man pressed to death with heavy stones for refusing to enter a plea?
Samuel Sewall
Giles Corey
George Jacobs Sr.
John Proctor
Giles Corey refused to plead "guilty" or "not guilty," so court officials used peine forte et dure - pressing him under stones - to force an answer. After two days, he died without ever entering a plea, which technically prevented his land from being forfeited. Learn more at .
Which governor ultimately dissolved the special court and pardoned many accused witches?
Increase Mather
John Winthrop
Sir William Phips
William Bradford
Sir William Phips, governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, dissolved the Court of Oyer and Terminer in October 1692 due to concerns over unfair trials and spectral evidence. He later pardoned many who remained in jail. His actions helped end the hysteria. See .
What type of evidence, later discredited, allowed accusers to claim they saw the accused's spirit doing harm?
Forensic evidence
Hearsay evidence
Spectral evidence
Circumstantial evidence
Spectral evidence consisted of testimony that the accused's specter or spirit appeared to victims in visions. This intangible evidence was controversial and later ruled inadmissible. It played a central role in early convictions but fueled wrongful executions. More information at .
Which prominent clergyman wrote against the use of spectral evidence, urging caution in trials?
Samuel Parris
Increase Mather
Thomas Brattle
Cotton Mather
Increase Mather published "Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits" in 1692, arguing spectral evidence was unreliable and urging the courts to require stronger proof. His position influenced Governor Phips to disband the special court. For details, see .
Who was the first person executed during the Salem Witch Trials?
Rebecca Nurse
Sarah Good
Bridget Bishop
Sarah Osborne
Bridget Bishop was the first to be hanged on June 10, 1692, after being found guilty of witchcraft. Known for her outspoken personality, she was accused by several of the afflicted girls. Her trial set the pattern for subsequent courtroom proceedings. More at .
Approximately how many people were accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials?
About 350
About 200
About 50
About 100
Historical records indicate roughly 200 people were accused of witchcraft between February and May 1692. Of these, around 150 were formally indicted, and many were jailed before the trials ended. The hysteria spread across several towns in Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex counties. See for figures.
Which legislative act in 1711 provided restitution to the families of those convicted during the trials?
Colonial Repairs Act
Act of Toleration
Salem Rehabilitation Act
Massachusetts Restitution Act
In 1711, the Massachusetts legislature passed the Restitution Act, which reversed the convictions of many accused witches and awarded financial compensation to their heirs. It acknowledged the injustice and provided payment to survivors' families. This act was an early example of government restitution for wrongful convictions. More here: .
What critical legal consequence stemmed from Giles Corey's refusal to enter a plea - known as "standing mute" - under torture?
He was forced to confess under pressure
He was declared innocent and released immediately
His estate was preserved because no conviction could be entered
He received a royal pardon posthumously
By refusing to plead, Giles Corey avoided a formal conviction, so his property could not be legally seized by the crown. The courts pressed him to death under peine forte et dure, but because there was never a guilty verdict, his heirs retained the estate. This case illustrates how colonial law treated pleas and property rights. More: .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Historical Causes -

    Readers will grasp the social, religious, and political factors that sparked the Salem Witch Trials and how these elements fueled community fears.

  2. Recall Interesting Facts -

    Participants will be able to cite intriguing and fun facts about the Salem Witch Trials, enriching their knowledge beyond common myths.

  3. Analyze Trial Procedures -

    Engagers will learn how accusations were investigated and judged, gaining insight into early colonial legal practices and their flaws.

  4. Identify Key Figures -

    Users will recognize prominent accused individuals, accusers, and officials, understanding their roles and motivations in the witchcraft hysteria.

  5. Evaluate Broader Impacts -

    Readers will assess the lasting effects of the Salem Witch Trials on American law, religious tolerance, and community dynamics.

  6. Apply Knowledge in Trivia -

    After this Salem Witch Trials quiz, participants will confidently tackle witch trivia questions and answers, reinforcing their mastery of the topic.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Puritan Society and Salem Village Tensions -

    One interesting fact about the Salem Witch Trials is that Salem Village's rigid Puritan hierarchy, land disputes and local vendettas created a breeding ground for panic. According to Harvard University's records, crop failures and Native American conflicts intensified fear. Use the mnemonic "PURITAN" (People's Unsettled Rivalries Ignite Tense Accusations Nightly) to recall these societal pressures.

  2. Spectral Evidence and Courtroom Beliefs -

    A fun fact about the Salem Witch Trials is that judges allowed "spectral evidence," in which victims claimed to see an accused's spirit attacking them. Massachusetts State Archives document that this supernatural testimony accounted for dozens of convictions. Remember "SPECTRE" (Seen Phantoms Encouraging Court Terror Results Easily) as a memory trick for the types of evidence used.

  3. Key Accusers, Defendants, and Their Roles -

    When preparing questions about the Salem Witch Trials, focus on key figures like Tituba, Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam Jr., whose testimonies drove the hysteria. University of Virginia sources show that Tituba's confession ignited widespread accusations, while Abigail and Ann's fits fueled the panic. A simple mnemonic "A²T" (Abigail, Ann, Tituba) helps recall the most influential names.

  4. Legal Procedures and the Shift to Due Process -

    To ace Salem Witch Trials tests, understand how 1692 procedures lacked modern due process - accused had no counsel and could confess to save their death warrants. The 1711 Acts of Reversal and modern Massachusetts law reflect shifts toward requiring corroborated evidence. Keep in mind the "Innocent Until Proven Guilty" formula as the foundation of our current trial standards.

  5. Legacy, Restitution, and Modern Memory -

    Many witch trivia questions and answers include the 1711 General Court act that exonerated most victims and the 1957 Massachusetts resolution clearing the remainder. Smithsonian Institution studies note that annual remembrances and museum exhibits keep these lessons alive as a warning against mass hysteria. Use the timeline trick "1692→1711 = 19 years to justice" to recall the period between trials and official restitution.

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