Exam - Free Response 2

Free Response #2: Discuss the political and social consequences of the Protestant Reformation in the first half of the sixteen century.

o The political and social consequences of the Protestant Reformation in the first half of the sixteenth century were evident in the persecution for going against the Catholic Church, debate about religion and splitting of states because of religious view, and having ruling power depending on whether one was Protestant or Catholic.

o Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation by posting his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral. He was going against the sale of indulgences that the Pope had put into place.

o Separation of states occurred because of the religious views. Places became Anabaptist, Lutheran, Calvinist, and some places remained Catholic. England stayed mostly Catholic.

o Political consequences were major; monarchs became concerned in whether their country was Protestant or Catholic, depending on what religion they were. Mary I of England was called “Bloody Mary” because she killed all those who were not Catholic. War broke occurred between the Protestants and the Catholics, with the Catholics winning the first two phases, and the Protestants winning the next. Four phases took place. Politcal consequences pushed on even further than the sixteenth century when Louis XIV had many Protestants leave his country.

The Protestant Reformation took place in the sixteenth century. Much of it began when Henry VIII issued the Act of Supremacy. The Protestant Reformation caused a disconnection in Europe because people chose whether or not to be Protestant or Catholic. The political and social consequences of the Protestant Reformation in the first half of the sixteenth century were evident in the persecution for going against the Catholic Church, debate about religion and splitting of states because of religious view, and having ruling power depending on whether one was Protestant or Catholic.

Henry VIII issued the Act of Supremacy to make himself head of the Catholic Church. Martin Luther was a Catholic monk who was opposed the Pope’s selling of indulges. To explain why he was against this selling and how it went against his faith, posted his 95 Theses. He posted the 95 Theses on October 31 on the Wittenberg Cathedral. This created much controversy and conflict. Luther was not accepted by the Catholic Church anymore after going against it in such a public way. Martin Luther was persecuted for his beliefs, but he took his ideas and turned them into a new religion for people to follow. He created Lutheranism. Martin Luther created consequences for the Church, but he allowed the public to choose whether or not they agreed with Catholic views or with his.

During the sixteenth century, many people were Roman Catholic and believed in the Catholic views, faith, and beliefs. When the Protestant Reformation came about, separation of states occurred because of the religious views. Places became Anabaptist, Lutheran, Calvinist, and some places remained Catholic. England was one place that stayed mostly Catholic. These religions had very different views, some of these ideas being that Anabaptists believed in complete separation from Church and state and Calvinist believed in predestination. States were not longer united because they were separated by their religion.

Political consequences were very evident from the Protestant Reformation. Monarchs in Europe became concerned in whether their country was Protestant or Catholic, depending on what religion they were. Mary I of England is an example of someone who took it into their own hands to turn a country back into the religion of their choice. Mary I of England was called “Bloody Mary” because she killed all those who were not Catholic. Hundreds were burned at the stake in just a short amount of time. The Thiry Years’ War developed; a war occurring between the Protestants and the Catholics, with the Catholics winning the first two phases, and the Protestants winning the next. Four total phases took place. Political consequences from the Protestant Reformation had such a big impact on European states that they pushed on even further than the sixteenth century when Louis XIV had many Protestants leave his country. Politics were greatly influenced by the Protestant Reformation.