THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION
Chapter 17
SSWH9 The student will analyze change
and continuity in the Reformation.
d. Analyze the impact of the Protestant Reformation; include the ideas of Martin Luther and John Calvin.
e. Describe the Counter Reformation at the Council of Trent and the role of the Jesuits.
f. Describe the English Reformation and the role of
Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
g. Explain the importance of Gutenberg and the
invention of the printing press
Section 3:
The Reformation:○ Roman Catholic church dominated religious life○ Criticized for its interest in ‘worldly pursuits’ (wealth
and power)
Church weakened by:○ Authority challenged by Renaissance emphasis on
‘individual’ (with help of printing press)○ Rulers begin to challenge their power○ Merchants resented paying Church taxes to Rome○ German ‘disunity’ difficult to impose control○ Movement for reform begins in Germany
Problems and Causes○ Claimed leaders were corrupt○ Popes spent extravagantly on personal pleasure
(children!)○ Lower priests illiterate and corrupt
Reformers:○ Expected higher morals from clergy○ Wanted standards of conduct for priests
John Wycliffe and Jan Hus want reform○ Taught the Bible had more authroity than leaders○ Europeans now reading their own religious works and
formed their own opinions
Luther Challenges the Church
Challenged Friar selling indulgences (pardons) released sinner from performing a penalty
Make them believe they could buy their way into heaven
Luther’s response: 95 ThesesPosted formal statements attacking ‘pardon
merchants’ on church doorCopied and printed all over GermanyHe began the Reformation (a movement for
religious reform)
Luther’s TeachingsPeople win salvation only by faith in God’s
forgiveness (church taught faith and ‘good works’ needed)
All church teaching should be clearly based on words of the Bible (Pope and church ‘false authorities)
All people of faith were equal. (Therefore people did not need priests to interpret the Bible)
Response to Luther Pope Leo X threatened excommunication
unless he recanted (took back) his statementsLuther refuses and burned decree
Charles V (Catholic) summoned Luther to Worms to stand trial
○ Imperial Order: Edict of Worms○ Declared Luther a heretic and outlaw○ No one could give him food or shelter
Frederick of Saxony disobeys and shelters Luther
○ translates New Testament into German○ Become a separate religious group called Lutherans
Peasants rebel against serfdom excited by religious freedom
Luther, horrified, condemns revolt peasants turn away from reform
German Princes support Luther for selfish reasonsGood excuse to seize catholic property
German Princes loyal to Pope join forces against Luther’s ideas
German Princes who supported Luther signed a protest against the agreement
Protesting Prince became known as Protestants
Charles V goes to war against German PrincesWeary of fighting, Charles orders all German
Princes, Catholic and non Catholic to Augsburg
Peace of Augsburg:Charles agreed that German Princes can
decide the religion of their stateSet in motion Protestant movement
England becomes Protestant
○ Henry VIII wants a son:○ 1509 Henry was a devout Catholic○ Wife: Catherine of Aragon – had daughter
Mary – no woman had assumed the throne○ Wanted to divorce 42 yr old Catherine○ Church did not approve – Pope could annul
(set aside) – Pope refused
Reformation Parliament Asked Parliament to pass laws that ended
Pope’s power in England○ Secretly married Anne Boleyn○ Parliament legalized Henry’s divorce
Act of Supremacy: Called on people to recognize the divorce and
accept Henry as the head of the Church of England
Thomas More refused to accept the oathWas imprisoned in the Tower of London and
executed for treason
Consequences of Henry’s Changes
Anne gives birth to ElizabethShe too was charged with treason and beheadedJane Seymour, 3rd wife, gave him a son, Edward
– though she dies 2 weeks laterHenry’s death (1547) leaves 9 yr old Edward to
the throne – 6 yr reign ends at his deathMary, devout Catholic, returns the Church to the
Pope until her death in 1558(Known as “Bloody Mary” for her execution of
Protestants) Elizabeth takes the throne
Restores the Protestant Church
Elizabeth Restores Protestantism 1559: Church of England established
(Anglican Church) with Elizabeth as its head(was to be only legal church in England)
To please both Protestants and Catholics:○ Priest were allowed to marry○ Could deliver sermons in English○ Kept trapping of Catholic services○ Revised church services to appease Catholics
Challenges to ElizabethModerate Religious practices brought peaceProtestants called for more church reformCatholics sought to overthrow Elizabeth with
Catholic Mary Queen of ScotsPhillip II of Catholic Spain
Section 4: Reformation Continues
Anglican Church in full swing under Elizabeth
Reformers at work Germany and else where Switzerland: John Calvin
Influenced by Erasmus and LutherAttacked abuses of Catholic ChurchWar: Swiss Protestant and Catholics
Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion
Calvinism
Institutes of the Christian Religion○ Men and women sinful by nature○ Humans cannot ‘earn’ salvation○ God chooses a very few people to save – the
electPredestination: God has known who was
to be saved from the beginning of timeIdeal government: ‘theocracy’
Geneva: Calvin’s CityAll attended religion classesNo bright clothing or gamesDifferent doctrines resulted in burning at the
stakebroken rules resulted in banishment or
imprisonment
Model city of Moral Citizens
John Knox - Presbyterians Scottish preacher Community churches governed by Elders Made Calvinism Scotland's official religion Deposed Mary Queen of Scots in favor of son
James Swiss, Dutch, French adopt Calvinism French Calvinists : Huguenots Catholic Feast of St. Bartholomew : Catholics
murder Huguenots (lasted 6 months) All Protestant churches trace their roots to
Calvinism
Anabaptists: “baptize again’ Greek○ Baptized only those old enough to choose○ Taught separation of church and state○ Refused to fight in wars○ Shared all their possessions○ Persecuted by Protestants and Catholics
Teachings influenced Quakers, Mennonites, Amish and Baptists
Catholic Reformation“Helping Catholics to remain Loyal”St Ignatius of Loyola founded two religious
orders: Jesuits: “Followers of Jesus”
To reform and renew the catholic Church 3 goals:
Founded schoolsConvert Christians to Catholicism Send missionaries around the world
Reforming Popes Paul III
Investigated indulgencesApproved the Jesuit orderUsed the Inquisition to seek out ‘heresy’
Called the ‘Council of Trent”Church’s interpretation of Bible was final
(heretic if questioned)Christians needed good works for salvation (not
just faith)Bible and Church were authorities for Christian
lifeIndulgences were valid expression of faith
Paul IVDrew up list of ‘dangerous books’ (Including Protestant Bible)Book Burnings
Legacy of Reformation:Protestant Churches flourished
Catholic Churches unified at Council of Trent
Both gave emphasis to education (new schools and universities flourished)
Catholic Church authority declined
Individual monarchies increased power
‘questioning’ of authority led to the Enlightenment