THE WIZARDING WARS
3rd Year - Option Three
The Wizarding Wars: we've all heard of them, but how exactly did they change the magical world, and what really happened? You may view the Wizarding Wars as another piece of important magical history, but in truth, they were some of the darkest periods of time that our world has faced. One wizard described of the First Wizarding War: "You're scared for yourself, and your family, and your friends. Every week, news comes of more deaths, more disappearances, more torturing... The Ministry of Magic's in disarray, they don't know what to do, they're trying to keep everything hidden from the Muggles, but meanwhile, Muggles are dying too. Terror everywhere... panic... confusion... that's how it used to be."
The First Wizarding War officially began in 1970, but its foundations date back to the 1940s when Tom Riddle studied at Hogwarts and reconnected with his magical heritage. This war established Riddle as Lord Voldemort and marked the beginning of his decades-long dark reign. Throughout the late 1960s, Voldemort formed his group of followers called "Death Eaters," created Horcruxes, and practiced the Dark Arts.
Voldemort finally revealed himself to the magical world in 1970, marking the beginning of the Wizarding War. He attacked the British Ministry of Magic with the aim to take it over and establish a new world order run by pure-bloods. Death Eaters began openly attacking muggles and took over strategic positions inside the Ministry.
Image of the Dark Mark
The Order of the Phoenix was established by Albus Dumbledore in 1971 in an attempt to stop Voldemort rising to power. Despite the Order's efforts, however, Voldemort continued to grow in influence and power throughout the 70s, increasing the frequency and brutality of his attacks. Voldemort established relationships with Werewolves and Giants and even used Necromancy to create an army of Inferi out of the people he killed. His reign lasted until October 31 1981, when he attacked the Potter Family. In his attempt to kill Harry Potter, however, the Killing Curse rebounded and left Voldemort with his physical body destroyed and his soul shattered.
Image of Lord Voldemort
Lord Voldemort returned to power over a decade later in 1995. Though the Second Wizarding War technically began on June 24, 1995, it was not officially declared by the Ministry of Magic until June 18, 1996 -- almost a year later.
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Although Voldemort was hit by his rebounded Killing Curse in 1981, his Horcruxes allowed his soul to remain, even if his physical body was destroyed. This was the key to him being able to return to power; Voldemort used the help of his follower, Peter Pettigrew, to brew and take a variety of dark potions that allowed him to return to a physical body. His power was cemented when he used Harry Potter's blood to break the protective spell over Potter, which had previously made it impossible for Voldemort to touch him.
The Ministry of Magic denied the return of Lord Voldemort until the Battle of Mysteries in 1996, when Voldemort infiltrated the Department of Mysteries in order to steal a prophecy that he believed would be the key to winning the war. Once open war was announced, Voldemort utilized his relationships with his Werewolf, Giant, and Dementor allies to build up his forces. Death Eaters once again infiltrated the Ministry of Magic and made a crucial move in 1997 when they killed Albus Dumbledore. The death of Dumbledore allowed Voldemort to completely take over the Ministry of Magic and officially rise to power.
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The Second Wizarding War came to an end on May 2, 1998, when Voldemort faced Harry Potter in a duel. Voldemort cast a killing curse at Potter using the Elder Wand, but because Potter was the rightful owner of the wand, the Elder Wand would not kill its true master and the curse rebounded, killing the Dark Lord once and for all.
HOMEWORK:
1) Find five members of the Order of the Phoenix from the First Wizarding World who were killed by Death Eaters. How did they die?
2) Do some research and pick one event from the Second Wizarding War that occurred between Voldemort's toppling of the Ministry of Magic in 1997 and his demise in 1998. What happened? Why was it important in the war?