🧙 This Week In History - Salem’s Witch Hunt Begins

Welcome back History Nerds,

We hope you’ve all had a nice start to your week! We have an exciting week of history to unravel today. From The birth of the Bill of Rights, to the Salem Witch hunt, things get pretty wild in this one! Make sure you read all the way until the end, you’re not going to want to miss out. And don’t forget to pour yourself up a cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy this week’s edition of the LOL History Newsletter.

Did You Know? On April 3, 1860, the Pony Express began its first ride, carrying mail nearly 2,000 miles from Missouri to California in just 10 days—a record at the time. Riders were usually teenagers, armed with a revolver and a satchel of mail, changing horses every 10–15 miles. The service only lasted 18 months, but it became one of the Wild West’s most legendary feats of speed and grit.

During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• The Birth of the Bill of Rights in 1789

• Michelangelo’s David Drops in Florence

• Goodyear’s Grit: The Birth of Modern Rubber

• Salem’s Witch Hunt Begins

Liberty’s Blueprint: Madison’s Bold Step in 1789

In 1789, James Madison stood before Congress in Philadelphia and introduced the Bill of Rights, a bold move to protect individual freedoms and curb federal power. A Virginia lawyer steeped in Enlightenment thought, Madison saw the new Constitution, barely a year old, as incomplete without guarantees for rights like speech, worship, and fair trials. His ten amendments, drawn from state laws and English tradition, aimed to shield citizens from the kind of oppression they’d fought to escape. Clearly, he wasn’t just scribbling notes to keep the ink industry in business!

The Congress he faced was divided, some dismissing the amendments as unnecessary, others wary of tampering with the Constitution. Yet Madison, with quiet resolve, argued for a balance between liberty and order. His proposals weren’t perfect—debate trimmed some ideas—but they were a foundation, crafted with reason and rooted in the belief that freedom needed safeguarding. That June day in 1789 lit a spark, one that would shape a nation.

Ratified in 1791, the Bill of Rights became more than a legal addendum; it was the heartbeat of American identity. Tested in courtrooms and on battlefields, its words grew, bent, and endured, reflecting a nation both flawed and resilient. Madison’s work was no mere document—it was a promise, a legacy of liberty that still burns bright.

Michelangelo’s David Drops in Florence

On September 8, 1504, Michelangelo’s statue of David was installed in Florence, and let’s just say—nobody had ever seen anything like it. Standing over 17 feet tall, carved from a single block of marble, David wasn’t just a statue—he was a Renaissance power move. Commissioned in 1501, Michelangelo’s David captured the ideal of perfect human form—youthful, athletic, and somehow looking like he’s about to destroy Goliath with just a glare.

Florentines were stunned. Originally meant for the cathedral, David ended up in a public square because it was simply too impressive to tuck away. The statue became a symbol of the Republic’s defiance, standing tall against bigger bullies—kind of like Florence’s own flex against invading powers. And while many admire David for his artistry, others… focus on his less clothed presentation. That famous pose? All natural. Except, of course, in SpongeBob SquarePants, where they tastefully covered him with a clam shell—because even Bikini Bottom has modesty standards.

Today, David is one of the most iconic sculptures in the world—admired by artists, tourists, and cartoon fans alike. He’s proof that marble can move people—emotionally, culturally, and sometimes even on Nickelodeon.

From Sticky to Sturdy: Goodyear’s Rubber Legacy

In 1844, deep in a New Haven workshop, Charles Goodyear secured a patent for the vulcanization of rubber, a breakthrough that transformed an unruly material into a cornerstone of industry. A tinkerer driven by persistence rather than formal science, Goodyear had spent years wrestling with raw rubber—sticky in heat, brittle in cold—until he stumbled upon a process of heating it with sulfur. This simple yet ingenious method created a durable, elastic substance, ready to serve everything from boots to belts.

The world he introduced this innovation to was skeptical, with rubber’s limitations long a source of frustration for manufacturers. Yet Goodyear, with dogged determination, pressed forward, overcoming financial ruin and failed experiments. His patent wasn’t flawless—details were contested, and rivals would later challenge it—but it laid a foundation, blending chemistry, grit, and vision. That June day in 1844 ignited a revolution, one that would reshape industries and everyday life.

Vulcanized rubber soon became the backbone of a booming market, from tires to hoses, enduring through factories and roads alike. Tested by time and innovation, its versatility grew, reflecting a world both practical and inventive. Goodyear’s discovery was no mere invention—it was a legacy, a springboard of progress that still supports us today.

First to Hang: Salem’s Witch Hunt Begins with Bridget Bishop

On June 10, 1692, Bridget Bishop became the first person hanged for witchcraft during the infamous Salem witch trials. Her crime? Being a bit too outspoken, wearing black clothes, and running a tavern. In Puritan New England, that was enough to raise eyebrows—and get you accused of making deals with the devil. After a quick trial with flimsy evidence (including neighbors claiming she bewitched their pigs), Bishop was found guilty of “certaine Detestable Arts called Witchcraft and Sorceries.”

Her execution kicked off a wave of paranoia in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Over the next few months, 19 more people would be executed, and more than 200 accused, as fear and superstition ran wild. Spectral evidence—basically people saying, “She cursed me in a dream”—was somehow considered valid in court. Logic and reason? Not so much. It was like a 17th-century version of a group chat gone horribly wrong.

Today, the Salem witch trials are remembered as one of the darkest moments in early American history—a warning about what happens when fear overrides facts. Bridget Bishop’s death wasn’t just a tragedy; it was the start of a mass hysteria that showed just how dangerous blind belief can be. Her story still haunts us—not as a tale of sorcery, but as a reminder of how quickly justice can vanish when panic takes its place.

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See You Next Time!

We hope that you enjoyed this edition of the LOL History newsletter! See you next week!

— Evan & Derek - LOL History Co-Founders