1. What was the witch craze and how was it dealt with the England?

2. By the end of this lesson you should be able to…
Explain what was meant by ‘witchcraft’
Describe the views that people in the 16th and 17th centuries had about witches
Understand why witchcraft became a serious crime in the 16th and 17th centuries

3. What does a witch look like and what do they do?

4. Based upon the stereotypes, who do you think would be at the greatest risk of witchcraft accusations?

5. What do these woodcuts tell us about people ideas about witches?

6. Social Change Religion ? Economic Hardship Civil War
Which factor do you think was the most important in causing an increase in witch trials between 1500 and 1700?
Social Change
Religion ?
Economic Hardship
Civil War

7. Witchcraft: Definitions, beliefs and laws
In the Middle Ages people had been tried for witchcraft in Church courts. They tended to give relatively light sentences, and the church did not execute people. Ordinary people relied upon local ‘wise women’ to look after themselves and their animals when they were sick.
Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries people continued to believe in many ancient beliefs, particularly in remote rural areas. Many believed that witches met with the Devil to receive instructions about what evil to commit, and that witches had animals, called familiars, that were given to them by the devil to help them with their work.
Role of the monarch
In 1542 Henry Viii passed a new law that made ‘witchcraft’ a serious crime in England, which carried the death penalty. However, persecutions did not really begin until the 1563 law passed by Elizabeth I.
The 1653 law defined two types of witchcraft:
Major Witchcraft – Trying to bring about a death or raise the spirits of the dead. This was punishable by death.
Minor Witchcraft – when someone used magic and charms. Punishable by imprisonment or the stocks.
Witch hunts in England did not become significant until another law passed in 1604 by James I, that enforced all other witchcraft laws. James I believed in, and feared, witchcraft. In 1597 he had written a book entitled Demonologie. He also disliked the secresy surrounding what he believed to be the practice of witchcraft, as he saw it as an opportunity for conspirators and trators to plot aagainst him.
Map image to be inserted

8. Why were new laws passed?
Religion
Before the reformation witchcraft was seen as a crime against the church. After the Reformation (because the monarch was head of the Church of England), it was considered to be an offence against the state and its ruler. Between 1500 and 1700 both Protestant and Catholic church leaders called for action against suspected witches, calling their religions opponents ‘Antichrist’ as well as heretics.
Economic hardship
The period saw the gap between rich and poor get wider. The number of jobs avaliable reduced, as did wages. This was a particular problem in villages and small towns. Peasants and craftspeople were the worst hit. The number of beggars and vagabonds increased and these factors sometimes led to problems between neighbours. Bad luck (such as crop failures or the death of animals) was blamed upon evil spirits and witches, especially if someone was envious of another person’s succes. Most accusations of witchcraft, however were made by wealthy people against poor people.
Social change
Economic hardship led to many families and small communities breaking up as people moved away in search of work. Many old women who would previously have been looked after by their families, found themselves living on their own. In these circumstances many turned to magic and charms as a way of earning a living, and also in the hope of improving their luck.
Civil War
The tensions that existed within communites were made worse by the civil wars in the years Once the wars died down accusations reduced.

9. Causes of Increase in witch trials Causes of decrease in witch trials

10. I believe the most important factor that led to an increase in witchcraft trials was ___________________ because.....
I believe the most important factor that led to a decrease in witchcraft trials was ___________________ because.....