East Anglia Flashcards
explain the political reasons for the witch craze
Chalres was given king ship, which wasn’t expected.
his hostile and stubborn attitude meant he did not get on with his government, causing rocky relations
he increased taxes, and tried to behead anyone who went against him
additionally, civil wars meant that 20 % of men were missing, making society very women based.
mortality rates were also high
explain the economic reasons for the craze
- crop failure- wet summers and freezing winters meant that crops were hard to grow. this caused famine and poverty, causing also inflation.
- changing land use-as poverty struck, those who could afford land want to buy more, in order to hold cattle.
additionally poor rates were imposed meaning the rich had to pay the poor which increased tensions between the classes - civil wars- most money was spent on supplies and food for that
explain the role of John Sterne and Matthew Hopkins
MH claimed he witnessed a witches meeting up near Mannigtree. from here he named himself as witch finder, offering his services for a fee.
-Elizabeth clark was the first witch found, who was examined and ound witch marks off, watched and then confessed
from this Sterne snd Hopkins travelled round separately, fining witches
who did the witch hunters target?
-mainly females, as they were vulnerable due to males away at war
-lower class mainly, who were illiterate
the roles of John Sterne and Matthew Hopkins
named themselves witch finder general, not named by government but gave them authority
they were efficient at there work, often only taking a short amount of time at there jobs
methods used- looking for marks, torture, watching, looking for familiars, walking and swim test
why did the eat Anglian witch craze come to an end
- growing cost, too expensive to pay for imprisonment, judges and Matthew and John
- reestablishment of traditional authority. Charles surrendered to the soctts, meaning that the judges and government could go back to east anglia
end of the civil war - John gaules work, a minister who was suspicious pf the workings of the witch finder generals, publishing a book suggesting that witchcraft was real, but criticised the workings of them two
why was the craze so widespread?
-economic hardship
-breakdown of traditional authority
-key individuals
-breakdown of the legal system
