History Today: When Salem first executed a woman for practising ‘witchcraft'

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On June 10 1692, Bridget Bishop was hanged in Salem, Massachusetts, becoming the first person executed during the infamous witch trials. The 60-year-old widow ran a tavern and was known for her flamboyant personality. It was also today in 1940 that Italy entered the World War II, joining Nazi Germany read more
Bridget Bishop was hanged in Salem, Massachusetts, becoming the first person executed during the infamous witch trials. Image courtesy: Wikiemedia courtesy
June 10 has seen some unforgettable moments in history.
Back in 1692, the town of Salem in the Massachusetts Bay Colony carried out its first execution in what would become one of the darkest chapters in American history: the witch trials.
Fast forward to 1935, two men came together to create Alcoholics Anonymous, a movement that would go on to become a worldwide support system for millions of people battling addiction.
If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
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And in 1940, Italy stepped into the chaos of World War II. Benito Mussolini declared war on France and Great Britain, bringing Italy into the conflict on the side of Nazi Germany.
Here is all that happened across the world on this day.
The first Salem witch was hanged
On this day in 1692, Bridget Bishop was hanged in Salem, Massachusetts, becoming the first person executed during the infamous witch trials.
Bishop was a 60-year-old widow who ran a tavern and was known in the community for her gossipy personality, gossip, and colourful clothes—traits that didn't sit well with Puritan expectations. When a group of young girls accused her of witchcraft, it wasn't long before the court took action.
The panic had started earlier that year in February, when two girls—Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams, the daughter and niece of the local reverend—suddenly began having violent fits and strange outbursts. A doctor blamed witchcraft. Pressured by the adults around them, the girls named several women in the village as witches.
That lit the spark. With encouragement from community leaders, more people—mainly women—were accused. Over the following months, more than 150 people across Salem and nearby areas were charged with witchcraft.
Over the following months, more than 150 people across Salem and nearby areas were charged with witchcraft. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
By June, a special court was set up to handle the chaos. Bridget Bishop was the first to face trial. When asked if she was guilty, she said, 'I am as innocent as the child unborn.' But the court didn't believe her. On June 10, she was hanged on what later became known as Gallows Hill.
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In the months that followed, 18 more innocents were executed—13 women and five men. One man, Giles Corey, was crushed to death. Most of the so-called 'evidence' used against them came from dramatic courtroom fits and hallucinations by accusers, claiming the defendants were cursing them in spirit form.
By October, Governor William Phipps stepped in. He dissolved the court and banned such testimony. The remaining prisoners were released, and those sentenced to death were pardoned. In 1711, the colony tried to make amends by restoring the accused's good names and giving some financial compensation to their families.
But it wasn't until 1957—over two and a half centuries later—that Massachusetts formally apologised. The Salem witch trials are one of the darkest chapters in American history.
Creation of Alcoholics Anonymous
On June 10, 1935, a simple meeting in Akron, Ohio, between two men—Bill Wilson and Dr Bob Smith—gave birth to Alcoholics Anonymous.
Both men were deep in their addiction. Dr Smith, a well-known surgeon, once admitted, 'I used pills and booze every day. I woke up in the morning with the jitters, took a sedative to steady my hands for surgery, started drinking again in the afternoon, needing to get drunk to sleep. Sometimes, in the operating room, I'd be high as a kite. Lucky I haven't killed somebody.'
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Bill Wilson and Dr Bob Smith—gave birth to Alcoholics Anonymous. Image courtesy: Alcoholics Anonymous
Wilson, a former Wall Street stockbroker, had been trying to stay sober with the help of the Oxford Group—a Christian fellowship that focused on spiritual principles. When he met Smith, the two discovered that simply talking to another alcoholic, openly and honestly, made a difference. It helped them stay sober. Their conversation became the foundation of what would become the AA 12-step programme—a now globally recognised recovery method.
The 12 steps emphasise personal accountability, spiritual growth, and peer support. What made AA groundbreaking was its grassroots structure—free, anonymous, and accessible to anyone struggling with alcohol dependence.
However, today, AA operates in over 180 countries and is estimated to have more than two million members. Though some critics question its religious overtones and effectiveness rates, AA remains one of the most influential models in addiction recovery.
Italy entered World War II
On this day in 1940, Benito Mussolini took the stage at Rome's Palazzo Venezia and declared war on France and Great Britain, pulling Italy into World War II on the side of Nazi Germany.
Benito Mussolini took the stage at Rome's Palazzo Venezia and declared war on France and Great Britain, pulling Italy into World War II on the side of Nazi Germany.
Mussolini had long aspired to make Italy a dominant European power and saw an opportunity as Hitler's forces rapidly advanced across Europe. Believing the war would soon end in a German victory, Mussolini hoped to claim spoils by joining in late.
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However, Italy was woefully unprepared. Military campaigns in North Africa and Greece were poorly planned and suffered major defeats. The Italian military was struggling with obsolete equipment, outdated tactics, and leadership issues, which ultimately contributed to their defeats and revealed significant weaknesses.
The move into war would ultimately backfire—Italy would become a battleground, Mussolini would be overthrown and executed, and the war would leave the country in ruin.