# data[].attributes.body
I do not believe that the cause of the Salem Witch Trials was a fungus. It does explain why the girls might go through hysteria, but it does not explain why they would mymic the witch on trial. Leaving it to either be some supernatural source, or the girls were faking it the whole time.

# data[].attributes.body
The cause of the Salem Witch Trials is most probably 4 girls who decided to play a prank. But their prank went too far as they could not admit to faking everything once someone was already dead. And so 20 people were killed and 5 people died in jail. As more girls joined in.

# data[].attributes.headline
The 4 main girls of the S.W.T imagining the Paris family maid as  witch

# data[].attributes.subject
The 4 main girls of the S.W.T imagining the Paris family maid as  witch

# data[].attributes.body
Form the Mary Evans Picture Libay

# data[].attributes.body
Illustrated by Howard Pyle

# data[].attributes.body
Ann Putnam Jr. was one of the "afflicted girls". She was one of the main girls in fact as she accused many women. On July 19, Rebekah Nurse was hanged. This was because Ann Putnam Jr. and her mother Ann Putnam had accused her of witchcraft. This was probably because Ann Jr. and her Mother both hated Rebekah Nurse, and an easy way of the time to get rid of someone you did not like was to accuse them of witchcraft.

# data[].attributes.headline
Bridget Bishop's grave at the salem witch memorial

# data[].attributes.subject
Bridget Bishop's grave at the salem witch memorial

# data[].attributes.body
The town would commonly over react to the girls hysteria. Amidst the trial of Bridget Bishop. Bishop would do the smallest things such as, look up. And the "afflicted girls" would freak out, or mymic her. And even though what they were doing today would obviously be seen as attention seeking. The town bought their performance, believing that there were witches in the town.

# data[].attributes.body
Author Charles W. Upham provides good reason for the trials in his book, "Salem Witchcraft". He writes, "It was perhaps their original design to gratify a love of notoriety or of mischief by creating excitement in their neighborhood… They soon, however, became intoxicated by the terrible success of their imposture, and were swept along by the frenzy they had occasioned"(Upham). The mentioning of the word "mischief " can help us understand that no harm was meant through their act. They just wanted attention

# data[].attributes.body
I believe that the cause of the Salem witch trials was the "afflicted girls" just pretending to be "bewitched" as a prank. But in the prank went too far. But they did not admit to it because they feared getting in trouble.

# data[].attributes.body
Abigail Wilson and her cousin Betty, are the first two girls to show signs of affliction. Soon other girls followed and pretended to be in hysteria. The town began to blame people of being witches and 20 people were killed in the town of Salem. This went on till 1693 in which the "Salem Witch Trials" stopped.