Final answer:
The Spanish Inquisition was formed to identify insincere converts from Judaism and Islam, led to religious persecution in Spain, and functioned as a government institution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Spanish Inquisition is a significant historical entity that emerged as an extension of the Roman Catholic Church's efforts to ensure religious homogeneity in Western Europe. Specifically, the Spanish Inquisition was formed to root out those who were insincere in their conversion to Christianity from Judaism and Islam during a period when religious tolerance in Spain was on the decline. The institution became known for its harsh interrogation techniques, persecution, and sometimes execution of individuals accused of heresy.
Considering the listed statements, the following are true:
- It was formed to detect Jews and Muslims who falsely converted (true).
- It contributed to religious persecution in Spain (true).
- It was a government institution (true).
This answers the student's query about the characteristics of the Spanish Inquisition, reaffirming its role in historical religious intolerance and its status as a government body with the authority to enact such measures.