(Assignment #111) The Protestant Reformation

The Protestant Reformation

By Kurt Stubbs

Learning Objective

I can...

explain the causes and effects of the Protestant Reformation and describe how it challenged the authority of the Catholic Church.

Success Criteria

✅I Ican describe at least two problems people had with the Catholic Church in the 1500s.

✅I can explain who Martin Luther was and what the 95 Theses were.

✅I can describe how the Reformation spread and how the Catholic Church responded.

Key Vocabulary 1/2

• Indulgences – payments for forgiveness of sins

• Reformation – movement to reform the Catholic Church that led to Protestant churches

• Protestant – Christian who broke away from the Catholic Church

• Martin Luther – monk who started the Reformation by posting the 95 Theses

Key Vocabulary 2/2

• 95 Theses – Martin Luther’s list of complaints against the Church

• Printing Press – machine that helped spread Reformation ideas

• Counter-Reformation – Catholic response to the Protestant movement

Open Ended

Should people be allowed to question powerful leaders? Why or why not?

What Was Wrong with the Church?

Main Idea: By the 1500s, many people believed the Catholic Church had become too rich and corrupt.

• Church leaders were living in luxury, like kings.

• Some priests were not well-educated or doing their jobs properly.

• The Church sold indulgences—certificates people could buy to reduce punishment for sins.

​A poor peasant giving coins to a priest.

​A wealthy bishop in fancy clothes.

Martin Luther Stands Up

Main Idea: A monk named Martin Luther challenged the Church in 1517.

Student-Friendly Explanation:

• Luther thought people should not buy forgiveness.

• He wrote 95 Theses, or statements, about what he believed was wrong.

• He nailed them to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany.

• His actions started a movement called the Protestant Reformation.

Luther posting the 95 Theses on a wooden church door.

Luther's Big Ideas

Main Idea: Luther wanted to fix the Church, not leave it—but his ideas were too bold for the time.

Student-Friendly Explanation:

• People should be saved by faith, not by buying indulgences.

• The Bible—not the pope—was the most important religious authority.

• Ordinary people should read and understand the Bible for themselves.

Printing Power!

Main Idea: The invention of the printing press helped spread Reformation ideas quickly.

Student-Friendly Explanation:

• Luther’s writings were copied and printed in many languages.

• People all over Europe began to question the Church.

• New Christian churches formed. These were called Protestant churches.

​Printing press with pamphlets flying out and spreading across a map of Europe.

Europe Splits in 2!

Main Idea: Not everyone agreed with Luther—Europe became divided between Catholics and Protestants.

Student-Friendly Explanation:

• Northern countries like Germany and England became mostly Protestant.

• Southern countries like Spain and Italy stayed Catholic.

• This division sometimes led to wars and conflict.

New Churches Break Away

Main Idea: Luther’s ideas inspired new Christian churches that broke away from the Catholic Church.

Student-Friendly Explanation:

• Lutheran Church – started by Martin Luther in Germany. Believed in salvation by faith and using the Bible as the only guide.

• Calvinist Church – started by John Calvin in Switzerland. Believed God had already chosen who would be saved (predestination).

• Anglican Church – started by King Henry VIII in England after a disagreement with the Pope. He made himself the head of the Church of England.

The Catholic Church Fights Back

Main Idea: The Catholic Church made changes in response to the Reformation.

Student-Friendly Explanation:

• The Counter-Reformation tried to stop the spread of Protestantism.

• The Church banned certain books and trained better priests.

• Groups like the Jesuits worked to bring people back to Catholicism.

The period from 1517 to 1648 witnessed unprecedented religious change. These competing visions continue to influence our world today.

​

Protestant Reformation vs Catholic Counter-Reformation

Review this presentation

Match

Match the Cause with the Effect

• The Catholic Church sold indulgences.

• Martin Luther wrote the 95 Theses.

• The invention of the printing press.

• King Henry VIII wanted a divorce the pope wouldn’t allow.

People became angry and demanded reform.

The Protestant Reformation began.

Luther’s ideas spread quickly across Eur

The Church of England (Anglican Church)

• People became angry and demanded reform.

• The Protestant Reformation began.

• Luther’s ideas spread quickly across Eur

• The Church of England (Anglican Church)

Match

Match the Cause with the Effect

• John Calvin taught that God had already chosen who would be saved.

• The Catholic Church launched the Counter-Reformation.

• People began to read the Bible in their own language.

• Some European rulers became Protestant.

The Calvinist Church was formed in Switz

New religious orders likelJesuits

Developed own interpretations of Bible

Europe divided religious wars broke out.

• The Calvinist Church was formed in Switz

• New religious orders likelJesuits

• Developed own interpretations of Bible

• Europe divided religious wars broke out.

(Assignment #111) Google Doc

Timeline of the Reformation

Due: Thursday @ 2:10 pm

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best explains how Martin Luther's actions led to lasting changes in European society?

• Martin Luther became pope and used his power to ban the sale of indulgences across Europe.

• Martin Luther led an armed rebellion that forced the Catholic Church to give up political power in Germany.

• Martin Luther’s criticism of Church practices, especially in the 95 Theses, sparked widespread debate, encouraged individual interpretation of the Bible, and contributed to the formation of new Protestant churches.

• Martin Luther discovered the printing press and used it to create new forms of art during the Renaissance.

Multiple Choice

How did the invention of the printing press most significantly contribute to the success of the Protestant Reformation?

• It enabled Martin Luther’s ideas and other reformers’ writings to spread rapidly, allowing more people to access religious texts and challenge Church authority.

• It allowed the Catholic Church to create official documents more quickly, strengthening its power.

• It replaced the need for handwritten books, making literature obsolete and ending Church education systems.

• It helped monarchs spread laws throughout their kingdoms and improve political stability.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best explains a major change that occurred as a result of the Protestant Reformation?

• The Catholic Church banned all religious texts and removed clergy from power.

• European governments stopped collecting taxes and gave full authority to the Church.

• Martin Luther became the ruler of Germany and unified all Christian churches under his leadership.

• The Reformation led to the decline of religious unity in Europe, encouraged the rise of individual nation-states, and increased conflicts based on religion.

Extra Credit Opportunity

• Watch a short video clip on the Protestant Reformation and write 3 things you learned. (Create a Google Doc, you must provide the link to the video you watched in the document along with the 3 things you learned then share with Mr. Stubbs).

  OR

• Write a letter pretending to be Martin Luther explaining your reasons for writing the 95 Theses (Create a Google Doc then share with Mr. Stubbs when finished).