10. The Salem Witch Trials Burned People at the Stake
Contrary to popular belief, no one was burned at the stake during the infamous Salem witch trials of 1692. Instead, most of those convicted were hanged. The only exception was Giles Corey, who was pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to enter a plea. Burning at the stake was a European practice, not a method used in colonial Massachusetts. The reality of Salem’s tragic events is grim, but not quite as fiery as legend suggests.
