The Reformation Test

History - Mr. Fronce

John Knox

• Knox put Calvin’s ideas to work.

• Followers of Knox became known as Presbyterians.

• Protestant nobles led by Knox made Calvinism Scotland’s

  official religion

Catherine of Aragon

• had one living child—a daughter, Mary—with Henry Vlll

Anne Boleyn

• had one living child—a daughter, Mary—but

• she fell out of Henry’s favor. Eventually, she was charged with treason.

• she was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

• She was found guilty and beheaded in 1536.

Luther

• A German monk and university professor.

• Opposed the selling of indulgences.

• Initially wanted to reform the Catholic Church rather than create a separate religion.

• Became the leading figure in the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

Charles V

• Devout Catholic

• Opposed Luther’s teachings

• He controlled a vast empire including the German States

• went to war against the Protestant princes - defeated them in 1547, but failed to force them back into the Catholic church

• Assembled Peace of Augsburg

Leo X

• issued a decree threatening Luther with excommunication unless he took back his statements in 1520

Prince Edward

• Henry’s son with Jane Seymour

• became king when he was just nine years old.

• Almost constantly in ill health, he reigned for just six years.

Bloody Mary

• took the throne in 1553.

• attempted to restore Catholicism to England

• She became known as “bloody” Mary because hundreds who resisted switching back to Catholicism were burned at the stake

• imprisoned her half sister Elizabeth until her(Mary) death in 1558

Elizabeth 1

• In 1558, came to the throne and restored the Anglican Church (Church of England) but followed a policy of moderation in her treatment of Catholics.

• restored stability to England over the next 40 years of her reign.

Extended Response: Problems in the Catholic Church that needed to be changed - led the demands for Reformation

The Catholic Church faced several serious problems during the time of the Protestant Reformation. The Church was heavily involved in world affairs and politics, which angered many European governments, particularly kings, who did not want the Church interfering in political matters. The Church had also become incredibly wealthy, which contributed to widespread corruption. High-level Church officials often lived opulent and lavish lifestyles and used their positions in the Church to gain personal wealth, land, and political power. Even low-level clergy, such as priests, often lived well compared to the people in their villages. The Church also increased fees for certain religious services, such as marriages and baptisms, in order to raise money. Another source of corruption was the buying and selling of Church offices, where people could essentially purchase positions of authority within the Church. One of the most controversial practices was the selling of indulgences. People were led to believe that they could buy a pardon for sins they had committed during their lives, as well as for sins committed by relatives who had already died. Many people believed that purchasing an indulgence would guarantee access to Heaven. Martin Luther strongly criticized these practices and eventually expanded his criticism to demand other reforms within Christianity. 

Extended Response: Luther’s three main ideas and why they were such a threat to the Church.

Martin Luther eventually attracted a large following, which led to the creation of a separate Christian faith known as Lutheranism. Lutheranism created new types of Church services and changed several Catholic practices. Lutherans recognized only two sacraments: baptism and the Eucharist (Communion), compared with the seven sacraments recognized by the Catholic Church. Another major difference was that Lutheran clergy could marry, while Catholic priests were expected to remain unmarried. In 1521, Pope Leo X issued a formal document, known as a papal bull, demanding that Luther recant, or take back, his teachings. Luther refused to recant, so the pope excommunicated him, meaning Luther was officially removed from the Catholic Church. Although the pope had little actual political power to capture Luther, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who supported the pope, took action against him. Charles V issued the Edict of Worms, which declared Luther an outlaw and heretic and stated that no one in the Holy Roman Empire should give him shelter or harbor him. Despite these threats, Luther's ideas continued to spread, and Lutheranism became an established Protestant faith.

Luther developed three main ideas: salvation by faith alone, meaning people could be saved through faith rather than through purchasing indulgences or performing good works; the Bible is the only authority for Christian life, which meant Luther rejected the pope as the ultimate religious authority and claimed that the pope was a false authority; and the priesthood of all believers, meaning that priests were not necessary to interpret the Bible because all believers could have a relationship with God and understand Scripture.

Extended Response: What was the Catholic Reformation - success or failure?

In 1553, Mary, the daughter of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII, succeeded Edward after his death and became queen of England. Mary attempted to restore Catholicism to England. She became known as “Bloody Mary” because hundreds of people who resisted switching back to Catholicism were burned at the stake. Mary also imprisoned her half-sister Elizabeth and kept her imprisoned until Mary's death in 1558. When Mary died in 1558, Elizabeth came to the throne. Elizabeth restored the Anglican Church, or Church of England, but she followed a policy of moderation in her treatment of Catholics rather than using the same level of violence as Mary. Elizabeth's policies helped restore stability to England during the approximately 40 years of her reign. At the same time, the Catholic Church launched the Catholic Reformation, also called the Counter-Reformation, in an attempt to stop and reverse Protestant gains throughout Europe. Pope Paul III began reforms intended to improve the Catholic Church. In 1535, the Reform Commission took steps to prevent worldliness within the Church and established penalties for corruption among the clergy. Another major part of the Counter-Reformation was the Council of Trent, which began in 1545 under Pope Paul III and continued under Pope Paul IV. The Council met on and off for about 20 years and reaffirmed important Catholic beliefs. It stated that salvation could be achieved through faith and good works, that the Bible was a major but not the only source of religious truth, and that the Church's interpretation of the Bible was final. The Council also banned the selling of false indulgences. Another important tool of the Counter-Reformation was the Inquisition, a court designed to root out heresy. The Inquisition was given greater power under Pope Paul III and used secret testimonies, torture, and execution in an attempt to stop heresy and defend Catholic beliefs.

Peace of Augsburg

1555 agreement allowing German rulers to choose Lutheranism or Catholicism for their territories

Problems in the Catholic Church

During the Renaissance, many Europeans became increasingly critical of the Catholic Church because of its wealth, corruption, and involvement in politics.

Major Problems in the Catholic Church

• Political involvement: The Church was heavily involved in European politics, angering kings and governments who wanted more power and independence.

• Wealth and corruption: The Church accumulated enormous wealth, land, and political influence.

• Lavish lifestyles: High-ranking Church officials lived luxurious lifestyles and sometimes used their positions to gain personal wealth, land, and power.

• Clergy corruption: Some lower-ranking clergy also lived comfortably compared with the people in their villages.

• Religious fees: The Church charged fees for certain religious services, such as marriages and baptisms, to raise money.

• Simony: The buying and selling of Church offices for money or personal gain.

• Indulgences: Church documents associated with reducing the temporal punishment for sins. Some Church officials promoted them in ways that led people to believe they could essentially buy forgiveness or guarantee salvation.

Why did Criticism in the Catholic Chruch increase?

• The printing press: Books and Bibles became more widely available, allowing more people to read religious texts.

• Different interpretations: People began interpreting the Bible for themselves and questioning the Church's interpretation.

• Growing dissatisfaction: Increasing criticism of corruption and Church authority led to demands for reform.

John Wycliffe

Challenged the Pope's right to worldly power and criticized Church authority.

Jan Hus

Criticized Church corruption and denied the Pope's right to worldly power.

Desiderius Erasmus

A Renaissance humanist who criticized Church abuses and called for reform.

Thomas More

An English humanist who wrote about society and religious and political issues.

Luther was angered by the selling of indulgences. He wrote the 95 Theses, a list of arguments criticizing indulgences and aspects of the Pope's authority.

• The ideas spread quickly throughout Europe.

• The printing press helped distribute Luther's arguments.

• Luther's criticism expanded beyond indulgences to include other Church teachings and practices.

• His movement eventually led to a separate Christian denomination: Lutheranism.

Luther’s Three Main Ideas:

1. Salvation by faith alone

People are saved through faith in God, not by purchasing indulgences or relying on good works to earn salvation

2. The Bible is the highest authority

Christian teachings should be based on Scripture rather than the Pope's authority alone. Believers should be able to read and understand the Bible.

3. Priesthood of all believers

All Christians have a direct relationship with God. A priest is not required to serve as the sole intermediary between a believer and God.

Catholic Church

• Recognized seven sacraments.

• Accepted Church tradition and the Pope's authority alongside Scripture.

• Taught that salvation involved faith and good works.

• Required priests in the Latin Church to remain unmarried.

Lutherism

• Recognized two sacraments: Baptism and the Eucharist (Communion).

• Emphasized the Bible as the highest authority.

• Emphasized salvation by faith alone.

• Allowed clergy to marry

Edict of Worms (1521):

decree declaring Luther an outlaw and heretic in the Holy Roman Empire

Why Did Lutheranism Spread in Germany?

Luther's ideas spread partly because of religious beliefs and partly because of political and economic interests.

Reasons for Support for why Lutherism spread to Germany

• Political independence: German princes wanted greater independence from the Holy Roman Emperor.

• Resentment toward Rome: Many German rulers disliked sending wealth to the Catholic Church in Rome.

• Seizure of Church property: Some princes wanted to take Church lands and wealth.

• Religious conviction: Others sincerely agreed with Luther's teachings.

• The printing press: Luther's writings reached more people.

• The German Bible: Luther translated the Bible into German, making it accessible to literate Germans who wanted to interpret Scripture themselves.

The German Peasants' Revolt (1524–1525)

Some peasants believed the religious upheaval could help them gain social and economic freedom, including an end to serfdom.

• Peasants attacked and looted Church property.

• Luther opposed the uprising because he feared losing the support of German princes and nobles.

• The rebellion was brutally crushed, resulting in as many as 100,000 deaths, according to commonly cited estimates.

The Protestant Reformation in England

England's break with the Catholic Church began primarily because of Henry VIII's political and personal concerns, rather than a desire to adopt Luther's theology.

Act of Supremacy (1534)

Parliament recognized Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England.

The Archbishop of Canterbury acts:

In 1533, the archbishop declared Henry's marriage annulled.

Anglican Chruch

The Church of England, independent of papal authority

The Catholic Reformation (Counter-Reformation)

The Catholic Reformation, also called the Counter-Reformation, was the Catholic Church's effort to correct abuses, strengthen its institutions, and stop or reverse the spread of Protestantism.

Reform Commission (1535)

Pope Paul III established a reform commission that sought to address problems within the Church.

• Discouraged worldliness among Church officials.

• Introduced measures to prevent corruption.

• Established penalties for corrupt clergy.

Council of Trent (1545–1563)

Catholic council that reaffirmed doctrine and addressed abuses

Indulgences

Grant associated with reducing temporal punishment for sins; abuses in its promotion angered reformers.

The Inquisition

Religious courts used to investigate and punish heresy.

The Jesuits

Catholic religious order focused on education, missionary work, and strengthening Catholicism.

Results of the Catholic Reformation

• Slowed the spread of Protestantism and reversed some Protestant gains.

• Improved the education and discipline of clergy in many areas.

• Reduced certain forms of corruption and strengthened Catholic religious life.

• Strengthened Catholic institutions and missionary activity.

• Did not reunite Europe: the continent remained divided between Catholics and Protestants.

Religious Persecution and Intolerance

Both Catholic and Protestant authorities sometimes persecuted people who disagreed with their religious beliefs.

Religious Conflicts

• Catholics and Protestants often viewed each other as threats to religious truth and political order.

• Governments and religious authorities sometimes punished people for refusing to conform.

• Religious divisions contributed to prolonged conflict and violence.

Witch Hunts

• Witch hunts spread through parts of Europe, particularly during periods of religious, political, and social tension.

• People accused of witchcraft were often scapegoats for disasters, illness, economic hardship, or other problems.

• Accusations could result in trials, torture, and executions.

Persecution of Jewish Communities

• Jewish people faced widespread discrimination and persecution under both Catholic and Protestant authorities.

• Some were expelled from territories or forced to migrate.

• Many were confined to ghettos or subjected to legal and social restrictions.

• Some migrated eastward into regions of Poland, Russia, and the Baltic area.

How Did Monarchs Gain Power?

• Kings and princes gained control over religious institutions in their territories.

• Some rulers confiscated Church land and wealth.

• Monarchs became less dependent on the Pope and other external religious authorities.

• Governments gained greater control over taxation, religious policy, and political affairs.

Nation-State

A political state with centralized authority over its territory and population

Annulment

A declaration that a marriage was invalid under Church law

Excommunication

Formal exclusion from the Church's communion

95 Theses

Luther's 1517 arguments criticizing indulgences and aspects of Church authority.

Simony

Buying and selling Church offices.