APEURO: Unit 2, Age of Reformation - The Spread of Protestantism, Calvinism, Anabaptists, Anglicanism

Why This Matters

The spread of Protestantism, particularly Calvinism, Anabaptists, and Anglicanism, played a pivotal role in shaping the course of European and American history during the 16th and 17th centuries. This significant event is connected to the AP theme of Religion and Politics, as it led to the fragmentation of Western Christendom, the rise of nation-states, and the eventual establishment of the United States as a Protestant nation. Understanding the spread of Protestantism is crucial for grasping the complex relationships between faith, power, and identity in early modern Europe and America.

Key Events & People

• Martin Luther (1483-1546): A German theologian who sparked the Protestant Reformation with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, challenging papal authority and the sale of indulgences.
• John Calvin (1509-1564): A French theologian who developed Calvinism, emphasizing predestination and the authority of the Bible, which became a dominant force in Protestantism.
• Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531): A Swiss theologian who led the Reformation in Zurich, advocating for a return to biblical simplicity and rejecting Catholic traditions.
• Menno Simons (1496-1561): A Dutch theologian who founded the Anabaptist movement, emphasizing adult baptism, community, and non-violence.
• Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556): An English theologian who served as Archbishop of Canterbury, playing a key role in the establishment of the Church of England and the development of Anglicanism.
• Elizabeth I (1533-1603): The English queen who consolidated the Church of England, promoting Anglicanism and suppressing Catholicism.
• John Knox (1513-1572): A Scottish theologian who led the Reformation in Scotland, advocating for Presbyterianism and the abolition of Catholicism.
• Ulrich Zwingli's Zurich Disputation (1523): A pivotal event where Zwingli debated Catholic theologians, marking a turning point in the Swiss Reformation.
• The Edict of Worms (1521): A papal decree condemning Luther's teachings, leading to his exile and the escalation of the Protestant-Catholic conflict.
• The Synod of Dort (1618-1619): A Calvinist synod that reaffirmed the Five Points of Calvinism, solidifying the theological foundations of Reformed Protestantism.

Cause & Effect Chain

• Cause: The rise of humanism and the rediscovery of classical texts in the 14th century.
• Effect: The emergence of Protestant reformers like Luther and Calvin, who challenged Catholic authority and doctrine.

• Long-term consequence: The fragmentation of Western Christendom, leading to the establishment of multiple Protestant denominations and the eventual decline of Catholicism's influence.

• Cause: The publication of Luther's Ninety-Five Theses in 1517.

• Effect: The spread of Protestant ideas throughout Europe, leading to the Reformation and the establishment of Protestant churches.

• Long-term consequence: The rise of nation-states and the decline of the Holy Roman Empire's authority.

• Cause: The English Reformation under Henry VIII.

• Effect: The establishment of the Church of England, which became a model for Anglicanism and influenced the development of Protestantism in America.
• Long-term consequence: The eventual separation of the Church of England from Catholicism and the establishment of the United States as a Protestant nation.

Essential Vocabulary

• *Calvinism*: A theological system emphasizing predestination, the authority of the Bible, and the sovereignty of God.
• *Anabaptism*: A Christian movement emphasizing adult baptism, community, and non-violence, founded by Menno Simons.
• *Anglicanism*: A Protestant denomination emerging from the English Reformation, emphasizing the authority of the Bible and the monarch.
• *Reformation*: A 16th-century movement challenging Catholic authority and doctrine, led by Protestant reformers like Luther and Calvin.
• *Indulgences*: A Catholic practice selling forgiveness for sins, which Luther and other reformers criticized.
• *Papal Infallibility*: The Catholic doctrine asserting the pope's infallibility in matters of faith and morals.
• *Presbyterianism*: A Protestant denomination emphasizing the authority of local churches and the role of elders.
• *Synod*: A gathering of church leaders to discuss and settle theological issues.
• *Disputation*: A formal debate or discussion on theological issues.
• *Edict*: A formal decree or proclamation, often issued by a monarch or the pope.

Common Student Mistakes

• What students often get wrong: Confusing Calvinism with Lutheranism.
• Correction: Calvinism emphasizes predestination and the sovereignty of God, while Lutheranism emphasizes justification by faith alone.

• Memory trick: Think of Calvinism as "C" for "chosen" and Lutheranism as "L" for "love" (justification by faith alone).

• What students often get wrong: Believing that the Anabaptists were a single, unified movement.

• Correction: The Anabaptists were a diverse group of Christians who shared certain beliefs, such as adult baptism and non-violence.

• Memory trick: Think of Anabaptism as "A" for "adult" baptism and "N" for "non-violence".

• What students often get wrong: Assuming that the English Reformation was solely the result of Henry VIII's desire for a divorce.

• Correction: The English Reformation was a complex process involving the influence of Protestant reformers like Cranmer and the rise of nationalism.
• Memory trick: Think of the English Reformation as "E" for "English" and "R" for "reform" (emphasizing the role of Protestant reformers).

DBQ / LEQ Connections

• Possible essay prompt: Analyze the role of Protestant reformers in shaping the course of European and American history. Be sure to discuss the key events, people, and ideas that contributed to the spread of Protestantism.

  • Specific evidence: Cite the Ninety-Five Theses, the Edict of Worms, and the Synod of Dort as key events in the Protestant Reformation.
  • Possible arguments: Discuss how Protestant reformers like Luther and Calvin challenged Catholic authority and doctrine, leading to the fragmentation of Western Christendom and the rise of nation-states.

• Possible essay prompt: Compare and contrast the theological systems of Calvinism and Anglicanism. Be sure to discuss the key differences and similarities between these two Protestant denominations.

  • Specific evidence: Cite the Five Points of Calvinism and the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England as key documents in the development of these theological systems.
  • Possible arguments: Discuss how Calvinism emphasizes predestination and the sovereignty of God, while Anglicanism emphasizes the authority of the Bible and the monarch.

• Possible essay prompt: Evaluate the impact of the English Reformation on the development of Protestantism in America. Be sure to discuss the key events, people, and ideas that contributed to the spread of Anglicanism and other Protestant denominations in the American colonies.

  • Specific evidence: Cite the establishment of the Church of England, the influence of Protestant reformers like Cranmer, and the role of English colonization in the development of Protestantism in America.
  • Possible arguments: Discuss how the English Reformation led to the establishment of the Church of England, which became a model for Anglicanism and influenced the development of Protestantism in America.

Quick Self?Check

1. Who published the Ninety-Five Theses in 1517?
   • Answer: Martin Luther
   • Explanation: Luther's Ninety-Five Theses sparked the Protestant Reformation and challenged Catholic authority and doctrine.
2. What was the main emphasis of Calvinism?
   • Answer: Predestination and the sovereignty of God
   • Explanation: Calvinism emphasized the idea that God has predestined certain individuals for salvation, and that human beings have no control over their own salvation.
3. Who founded the Anabaptist movement?
   • Answer: Menno Simons
   • Explanation: Menno Simons was a Dutch theologian who emphasized adult baptism, community, and non-violence, and became a key figure in the Anabaptist movement.

Last?Minute Cram Sheet

• The Edict of Worms (1521) condemned Luther's teachings, leading to his exile and the escalation of the Protestant-Catholic conflict.
• The Synod of Dort (1618-1619) reaffirmed the Five Points of Calvinism, solidifying the theological foundations of Reformed Protestantism.
• The Thirty-Nine Articles (1563) established the theological foundations of the Church of England.
• The Five Points of Calvinism (1618-1619) emphasized predestination, the sovereignty of God, and the authority of the Bible.
• The Anabaptist movement emerged in the 16th century, emphasizing adult baptism, community, and non-violence.
• The English Reformation (1534-1553) led to the establishment of the Church of England and the decline of Catholicism's influence in England.
• The Calvinist Reformation (1550s-1650s) spread throughout Europe, establishing Reformed Protestant churches in Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands.
• The Puritan movement (1550s-1650s) emerged in England, emphasizing the importance of personal piety and the authority of the Bible.
• The Pilgrims (1620) established the first successful English colony in America, Plymouth Colony, which became a model for later English colonies.
• The Mayflower Compact (1620) established the framework for self-government in the Plymouth Colony, influencing the development of American democracy.