People were most likely to be accused of witchcraft in Salem during the peak period of the Salem witch trials from early 1692 through mid-1693, especially the months from January to June 1692. The initial accusations began in early 1692 when young girls in Salem Village started exhibiting strange behaviors, which led to the first accusations against three women in February 1692. The wave of accusations rapidly spread during the spring and early summer of that year. By May 1693, everyone under suspicion had been pardoned, marking the end of the trials period. The intense period of accusations was fueled by social tensions, religious beliefs in witchcraft, political rivalries, recent epidemics, and other local stresses. Accusations often involved neighbors and social outcasts, including women who were middle-aged or older, and personal vendettas played a role. The trials and accusations were concentrated mainly in the first half of 1692, with some judicial activity continuing into 1693 before the hysteria subsided.
