The infamous trial in the 17th century that alleged witchcraft and led to the execution of many people in colonial America was the Salem Witch Trials. Taking place in 1692 in Massachusetts, the trials were marked by mass hysteria and paranoia over witchcraft, resulting in the wrongful conviction of numerous individuals. The trials highlighted the dangers of extremism, superstition, and the breakdown of social order, ultimately becoming a cautionary tale in American legal and social history.