On June 10, 1692, Bridget Bishop, the first person convicted in the Salem witch trials, was hanged at what would become known as Gallows Hill in Salem, Massachusetts. Her execution marked the beginning of a series of accusations, trials, and hangings that would claim the lives of more than 20 individuals accused of witchcraft. The Salem witch trials have since become synonymous with mass hysteria and are often cited as a cautionary tale about the dangers of isolationism, religious extremism, and the breakdown of due process under societal pressures.
