Witchcraft in the 1600s quiz

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This will test your knowledge of why women were executed for witchcraft in the seventeenth century

1. What was the name of the most famous witchfinder in English history? (He was based in Essex in East Anglia). *

1 point

Who is this man?

Matthew Hopkins

Michael Walters

Harold Wilson

James Callaghan

Harry Macmillan

2. Why did areas like Essex see more witchcraft trials than areas like the South West or North? *

1 point

They were more Catholic

They had more pets like cats and toads, which people thought were evil spirits

They were poorer than other counties

They were richer than other counties

They were more Puritan

3. What name was given to the 'evil spirits' that witches were meant to have used to communicate with the devil? (These were usually in the form of an animal such as a cat or a bird or a frog, as in the woodcut here). *

1 point

Familiars

Banshees

Centaurs

Griffins

Basilisks

Kelpies

4. Which decade saw more witches executed than any other in the early seventeenth century? (early 1600s) What was happening at this time? *

1 point

1600s (during the Gunpowder Plot)

1610s (during the latter reign of James I)

1620s (during the time of Charles I's accession and marriage to Henrietta de Bourbon)

1630s (during the '11 Year Tyranny')

1640s (during the English Civil War)

1650s (during the 'Interregnum' - when Oliver Cromwell ruled England)

1660s (during the Restoration and Great Plague)

5. The number of witchcraft trials was also very high during the 1580s and 1590s. Why? What was happening at this time that led to high levels of stress, which meant people were looking for someone to blame for their troubles? *

1 point

The Great Plague struck (a variant of the Black Death)

Banking crises, financial troubles and hyper-inflation

Warfare, high casualties, and traumatic loss of life

Famine, disease and rebellions

There were several earthquake, causing huge damage, especially in East Anglia

6. Why were women nearly always accused of witchcraft, rather than men? *

1 point

Women were much better at casting spells than men; after all, Hermione Granger was much better than Harry and Ron at charms and transfiguration

Men were scared of women: they were seen as more intelligent, more manipulative and stronger mentally

Women were seen as darker and crueller: there were many reports of violence committed by women, and men needed to find a way to stop them

Women were seen to be inferior and weaker; the bible taught that Eve had been tempted by Satan in the garden of Eden

Women are able to bear children rather than men; the men thought that babies were evil and sometimes ate them

7. What was the main reason for why women were accused of witchcraft? *

1 point

It most often began in church, because people were reminded of the devil then

It most often began as an argument between neighbours

It most often began in the fields when people were farming because people got bored and wanted to start a fight

It most often began with murder and violence

8. Choose the correct TWO monarchs who made laws that made it easier to put a woman on trial for witchcraft. *

2 points

James I stated that anyone who contacted evil spirits could be hanged for witchcraft in 1603

Charles I stated that Puritan women could be hung for witchcraft in 1632 during the 11 Year Tyranny

Mary I gave the death penalty for using magic to kill Catholics in 1555

Edward VI stated that any woman who was found carrying a pet outside their home could be hung for witchcraft in 1549

Elizabeth I gave the death penalty for people using magic to kill someone in 1563

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