Which religious group faced persecution under William Laud's Archbishopric?

• A. Puritans
• B. Anglicans
• C. Catholics
• D. Quakers

Answer: (A)

Religious conformity within the Church of England is the central idea here. William Laud, as Archbishop of Canterbury, pushed reforms to make worship more ceremonial and to enforce bishops’ authority across the church. Puritans believed the church should be reformed further and criticized the bishops and rituals Laud promoted. Because they stood against Laud’s policies, Puritans faced strong pushback: ministers could be removed from their positions, sermons and books were censored, and church authorities used their power to discipline dissenters. This combination of enforcement and resistance is why Puritans are the group that faced persecution during Laud’s archbishopric.