Witchcraft

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Who Made Witchcraft a Capital Offence in 1542?
Henry VIII.
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Why were People Afraid of Witchcraft?
Witches were blamed for many different things, from crops failing, to someone falling ill and dying. People had a fear of the unexplainable and thought that witches were the Devil's minions, which resulted in fear surrounding 'witchcraft'.
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What was the Name of King James I's book on Witchcraft?
Demonologie (1597).
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Who was Matthew Hopkins?
Matthew Hopkins was known as 'The Witchfinder General'. He 'discovered' and executed suspected witches for a fee. He accused 36 women (often torturing them to confess), and had 19 hanged. In 1647, he was hanged for being suspected of witchcraft.
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Why did Witchcraft Become a Serious Crime?
Changing attitudes, Attitudes of the authority, Religion, Economic problems, War, Social changes/tensions, Reputation.
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How were the Majority of Witches Punished?
Execution by hanging.
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How were Suspected Witches Tried?
By "Swimming" or "Floating". The accused was thrown into water, (blessed by a Priest), with their left hand tied to her right foot and her right hand tied to her left foot. The innocent would sink and the guilty would float.
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How Fair were Whitch Trials?
The trial process was extremely unfair, and, although if the accused sunk they were believed to be innocent, they often weren't pulled out of the water in time, and so drowned.
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What Happened in 1563 when Elizabeth I introduced a New Law?
There was an increase in prosecutions after Elizabeth I's new law defined minor and major witchcraft.
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Who were Typically Accused of Witchcraft?
Over 90% of those accused were women. These would usually be elder women who were widowed or lived alone. They would have a pet (familiar), have unusual body marks (commonly a third ******) and would often work with herbal remedies.
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Why were Women Accused of Witchcraft?
Christianity portrayed women as easily tempted by the Devil and able to make men do evil things. According to some historians, many men feared or hated women (Misogyny).
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What was Used as Evidence to Convict People of Witchcraft?
Unusual body marks, Witness accounts, Two proven witches swearing the witch was an accused too, 'Possessed' children acting as accusers, Confessions, Floating when thrown into water, Not bleeding when pricked with a needle.
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Why did Society Undergo a Witchcraft Craze?
Matthew Hopkins, New laws, King James I, Religion.
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Why did the Fear of Witchcraft Die Out?
Increase in Scientific Discoveries; Increasing experiments -Things blamed on the Devil could be blamed on science. Peace after the Civil War meant tensions in communities eased. Superstition was dying out. Witchcraft laws weren't enforced as much.
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How did Attitudes Change?
Changes in the attitudes of the authorities can be seen in the decline of Witchcraft prosecution after the Civil War. The general public were much slower to change - unofficial witchcraft trials continued durring the latter part of the 18th century.
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When were Witchcraft Laws Abolished?
1736.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Why were People Afraid of Witchcraft?

Back

Witches were blamed for many different things, from crops failing, to someone falling ill and dying. People had a fear of the unexplainable and thought that witches were the Devil's minions, which resulted in fear surrounding 'witchcraft'.

Card 3

Front

What was the Name of King James I's book on Witchcraft?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Who was Matthew Hopkins?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Why did Witchcraft Become a Serious Crime?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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sweetypants

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excellent piece of revision tool.

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