Question

In "The Witch of Blackbird Pond," how did Matthew Wood's political beliefs differ from William Ashby's opinion?

a) Matthew advocated for democratic ideals, while William believed in a monarchy.
b) Matthew supported religious freedom, while William favored a theocratic government.
c) Matthew was a loyalist, while William was a revolutionary sympathizer.
d) Matthew believed in strong central government, while William advocated for states' rights.

Answer 1

Matthew Wood in 'The Witch of Blackbird Pond' supported democratic ideals and religious freedom in contrast to William Ashby, who favored a theocratic government aligned with conservative Whig beliefs.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the historical fiction novel The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Matthew Wood is depicted as a character who holds different political beliefs compared to William Ashby. Matthew Wood is more closely aligned with the notions of early democratic ideals, suggesting he supported the radical Whigs' perspective favoring broader participation in government, while William Ashby's political stance is more in line with theocratic government, reflecting the conservative Whigs who believed in governance by a patrician class.

This implies that Matthew Wood likely championed religious freedom and was critical of policies that enforced uniform religious practices, in contrast to William Ashby.