Elizabethan England: Witches. Flashcards
after the law passed what was illegal to do if you were a witch and what were the consequences.
someone found guilty of using witchcraft to kill someone meant that you could be hanged.
witches who harmed people or property could be imprisoned.
what year was the ‘witch law’ passed?
1563.
who was Ersula Kemp, what was she accused of and what was her punishment?
woman who lived in Essex.
executed for witchcraft in 1582.
what were the 3 reasons historians gave for the reason why people accused of being witches increased after 1580?
attack on women.
village tensions.
puritan concerns.
the majority of people accused of witchcraft were women so what do feminist historians think the cause of it was?
PEE.
P)driven by misogyny.
E)the people who judged the trials were men.
in 1970 the suggested reason for an increase was due to religious divisions and hardship. what does this explain?
average Elizabethan was less likely to help their fellow neighbour and acts of charity were uncommon now. bitterness had grown in people which resulted in acts of misfortune leading to accusations of witchcraft and evil deeds.
rise in accusations could be linked to what?
the heightened importance of religion and the removal of ‘ungodly or pastiest’ activities such as calendar customs.
main reasons why puritans wanted a stricter community. 5 things.
protecting the sabbath.
stopping catholic practises.
stopping pagan practises.
preventing disorder.
preventing unwanted pregnancies.
why did puritans want to protect the sabbath?
Sundays should be a day of rest a prayer.
sacred religious day and merry making should not be made on the lord’s day.
why did puritans want to stop catholic practises. what was it down to in terms of the country?
local catholic customs such as saint days shouldn’t be allowed as England is now a protestant country.
why did puritans want to stop pagan practises?
England is a Christian country and outdated pagan practises such as Christmas, maypoles, midsummer bonfires should not be allowed.
When and why did puritans want to prevent disorder?
often when sport was played and festivities take place disorder follows due to drunkenness und unruly behaviour. we need more pure and godly communities.
why did puritans want to prevent unwanted pregnancies?
sex outside the marriage was considered a sin and is often result of drunkenness and other un-ordered activities such as dancing. the may games which often involve love-making are un-pure and sinful especially linking to pagan origins.
