AP Exam Free Response #2

Discuss the political and social consequences of the Protestant reformation in the 1st half of the 16th century.
Outline: Consequences
- Counter Reformation by the Vatican in an effort to fight reformists.
- Council of Trent caused reformation inside the Catholic church, completely condemned the Protestant reformation and reaffirmed that the Catholic Church’s word on scripture was final.
- Set the stage for the many religious wars to come like the 30 years’ war
- Changed the hierarchy of power in Europe, the church loses a lot of power and authority in Eastern Europe and England.

The Protestant reformation was not just a time for a change in religious hierarchy and how the average European prayed. The Reformation was a prompt for many, many events to come in the future, the 30 years’ war and other religious wars being some of them. The Vatican starts its Counter-Reformation beginning with the Council of Trent in which it condemns the Protestant Reformation. Not only did the Protestant Revolution change the religious hierarchy in Europe but it was a catalyst for events in the 16th century that would change the balance of power in Europe.

Once the reformation begins to gather supporters and popularity the Vatican begins it’s counter-reformation; an effort to restore most of Europe to Catholicism and to crush the protestant reformation. The consequences of the council include many reforms in the church which in fact are exactly what Luther wanted in the first place, an affirmation that the Catholic Church’s word on scripture was final and a complete condemnation of all who were protestant. Catholicism had declared war on Protestantism.

A series of Religious wars would soon follow often lumped together and referred to as the 30 years’ war. The 30 years’ war took place in the southern Netherlands and among the 300 principalities of modern day Germany, many of these principalities choosing different religions and sides to fight on. The war was mainly fought in Germany but all of Europe felt the effects. All throughout Europe Protestants were fighting Catholics, maybe not directly but the rivalry was there. The consequences of the 30 years war was a united Dutch Republic, a still widely dispersed and war torn Germany in which each principality could choose its own religion legally and France under Louis the 14th as the pre-eminent nation in Europe for decades to come.

In Spain Isabella and Phillip instigate their inquisition which persecutes all non-Catholics and purges the country of Moors and Jews. Urged by Papal influence they also send a he armada to attack England which is defeated and from which Spain does not recover and allows England to come out on top of Spain.

The Protestant reformation changed the face of Europe and indirectly caused the 30 years’ war and the Counter Reformation. Both events changed the lives of every European, allowed Louis the 14th and France to become the most pre-eminent nation in Europe by the end of the 16th and caused the downfall of the Spanish Armada. The Protestant Reformation changed the balance of power In Europe forever.