Chapter 11, Lesson 3 The Reformation Begins It Matters Because: Events during the Reformation led to the development of new Christian churches that still exist today.

Calls for Reform in the Catholic Church Renaissance Europeans began to criticize the growing wealth and power of the Catholic Church Martin Luther wanted to reform the Catholic Church Reformation instead led to new form of Christianity, Protestantism As early as 1300s, educated Europeans saw problems in the Church Bishops grew wealthy and built palaces Many local priests could barely read Church began selling indulgences Certificate of forgiveness of sin Indulgences were most often given to wealthy donors

People were angry about Church’s focus on money In 1370s, John Wycliffe believed everyone should be able to read the Bible Translated Bible from Latin to English Christian humanists wanted to restore simple faith of early church Best known Christian humanist was Erasmus Believed people should use reason to receive faith Believed people should be good in everyday lives, not just on Sundays This would reform the church and society Erasmus wrote Praise of Folly to criticize Church corruption Attacked wealth of church Claimed Popes were so concerned with wealth and pleasure that they were no longer Christian Calls for Reform in the Catholic Church

Martin Luther Supported reform in Catholic Church but was opposed by Pope Became doubtful about Church after visiting Rome and seeing corruption there Officials made fun of church rituals, disobeyed church rules, some could not read Became angry when Pope sent monks across Europe selling indulgences How could the church put a price on God’s forgiveness? Prepared 95 arguments against the church Thousands of copies were read across Germany Luther began teaching that only Jesus was the head of the Church That no man on earth or amount of money could save a person from sin Christians could confess their sin directly to God without a priest Pope Leo X asked Luther to recant (deny) his statements When Luther refused, he was excommunicated Founded the first Protestant Church, called Lutheran

Lutheranism and Politics Luther’s new church based on 3 main ideas: Faith in Jesus, not good works, provides a place in heaven The Bible is the authority for truth about God The Church is made up of all believers, not just clergy Peasant revolts swept across Germany Luther supported peasants’ demands for higher wages, lower taxes Europe’s rulers supported Protestantism because it weakened the Pope As more states became Lutheran, less taxes were paid to the Pope This weakened the Catholic Church

John Calvin Calvin studied law, humanism, and religion in Paris Agreed with Luther about Protestantism Fled Paris when it became too dangerous to speak about Protestantism As he studied, Calvin came to believe in the idea of predestination Predestination – God decides outcome of all things So God decides who will go to heaven and who will not Calvin’s teaching led people to improve their behavior Calvin also taught that people should select their own leaders, in church and government

England’s Reformation The early Reformation in England was political – King Henry VIII vs. Pope Clement VII (Lorenzo de Medici’s nephew) Henry wanted to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon (daughter of Ferdinand & Isabella) Pope would not allow the divorce, because he did not want to anger Catherine’s family When Henry divorced Catherine, Pope excommunicated him Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, making Henry head of the Church of England Henry seized Catholic lands in England and gave it to nobles, ensuring loyalty

Bloody Mary & Elizabeth The Church of England (known as Anglican) accepted some Protestant ideas Kept most Catholic rituals Most English Catholics supported Henry’s Catholic daughter, Mary, when she became Queen Mary restored the Catholic Church and arrested English Protestants More than 300 Protestants were burned at the stake Many English turned against Mary, calling her “Bloody Mary” Mary died in 1558 and her sister Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth restored the Anglican Church and became one of England’s greatest ruler

The Puritans in England Some English people became Calvinists, known as Puritans Wanted to purify the Anglican Church of Catholic ways Elizabeth tolerated Puritans James I and his son, Charles I, felt threatened by Puritans Closed churches and arrested leaders Many Puritans left England and settled in North America Many settled in New England One group, the Pilgrims, separated from the Anglican Church and founded the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts