How did Tituba affect the Salem Witch Trials?

Answer 1

Tituba, an enslaved woman of Caribbean origin, played a pivotal role in the Salem Witch Trials by being one of the first individuals accused of witchcraft. Her confession in February 1692, in which she claimed to have been in league with the Devil and named other supposed witches, fueled the hysteria and led to a wave of accusations throughout Salem. Her testimony not only intensified fear in the community but also set a precedent for using spectral evidence, which ultimately contributed to the trials' escalation and the wrongful persecution of many innocent people. Tituba's influence highlighted the intersection of race, gender, and power dynamics in the context of the trials.