Witch trials were legal proceedings held to investigate and punish individuals accused of witchcraft, often based on superstition and fear. These trials were common in Europe and colonial America from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Accusations often stemmed from social tensions, personal grievances, or unexplained events, leading to widespread hysteria. During these trials, many accused individuals, primarily women, faced harsh interrogations and were sometimes tortured to extract confessions. The most infamous example is the Salem witch trials in 1692, where several people were executed based on dubious evidence and mass panic. Ultimately, many trials were later discredited as unjust and based on flawed reasoning.