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What really happened during the Salem Witch Trials - Brian A. Pavlac

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TEDEd Animation

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You’ve been accused of a crime you did not commit. It’s impossible to prove your innocence. If you insist that you’re innocent anyway, you’ll likely be found guilty and executed. But if you confess, apologize, and implicate others, you’ll go free. This was the choice facing those accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts in the 17th century. How did this happen? Brian A. Pavlac investigates.

How and why do some people easily believe in witches while others remain skeptical?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Brian A. Pavlac
  • Director Silvia Prietov
  • Narrator Susan Zimmerman
  • Storyboard Artist David Hernández
  • Animator Esteban Jaime, Jorge Moyano, Mario Carrascal
  • Compositor Jorge Moyano
  • Art Director David Hernández
  • Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
  • Music Stephen LaRosa
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Iseult Gillespie
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma

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