AP EUROPEAN HISTORY: THE REFORMATION

FOCUS QUESTIONS: Protestant Reformation, Catholic and Counter-Reformations, Wars of Religion (1517-1648) Practice Questions for Discussion 1 "Calvin's doctrines were a radical departure from those of both the Roman Catholic Church and Lutheranism" Evaluate this statement. 2. "The reformation was caused by long-term political, social, and economic developments" Discuss this statement. 3. "The Catholic and Counter Reformations attempted not only to reform the Church but to suppress heresy" Defend or refute this statement 4. "The Protestant emphasis on one's personal relationship with God was a logical outgrowth of the Renaissance" Assess the validity of this statement. 5. "Protestantism spread with the growth of nationalism" Discuss this statement. 1. This question leaves some room for choice. In evaluating the statement, one may choose to compare the doctrines on salvation of each of these Christian sects. In his stand against the indulgences, Luther departed from Roman Catholic doctrine and from Church tradition. Calvin argued still another view. The question could be approached through this issue alone. Another way to attack the question would be through the differing relations of each of these sects to the issues of religion and the state and of church government. A clear contrast can be shown among the three. 2. The "discuss" essay is, by nature, less focused than other variations. Like the others, it requires that the student take a stand on the statement; unlike the others, it does not narrow the possible approaches. Choices bring opportunities and dangers. This type requires strict organization. In this particular question, the crucial term is "caused." Any great historical event is brought about by multiple and complex developments. There are the long-term causes. For instance, corruption among Church officials and the influence of Renaissance ideas are long-term causes of the Reformation. But people - personalities- are often at the center of immediate causation. Immediate causes are actions that precipitate great events. Tetzel's sale of indulgences provoked Luther to issue his 95 Theses. 3. In a "defend or refute" essay, it is still possible to present a mixed argument - party for, partly against. After all, there are few human endeavors that do not encompass the whole range of moral possibility. To "reform" implies a noble goal for a noble institution; to "suppress" implies the application of power for the denial of freedom. The point to remember with this question is not to make moral judgments but rather to consider the varying roles of individuals and organizations during the Catholic response to Protestantism. 4. A reminder: to "assess validity" is to determine whether a statement is true or false, or partly both. The pivotal concept in this statement is "logical outgrowth." Consider its implications before choosing an approach. Does it mean a necessary effect? Or the result of one influence among many? In order to answer this, the student must be familiar with the Renaissance ideas that emphasized individuality as well as how they differed with notions of the preceding age (the medieval period). These ideas must then be linked as influences for various Protestant theological or social concepts that differed from Roman Catholic views. This is a tough question. It would be easy to fall into the trap of over-simplifying by jumping to conclusions based on a superficial knowledge of complex ideas and doctrines. 5 This question implies a link between what would appear, at first glance, to be two diametriccally opposed forces: the spiritual and the political. Of course, religion has influenced politics throughout the ages; it continues to in our own country. It is less common or at least appears to be for politics to influence the growth of a new religion or, more accurately, a new dogma. The key to answering this question is an understanding of the changed attitudes and political relationships in the 16th century and of the way Protestantism fostered nationalism.