1. UNIT 4: CULTURAL CONFLICT LESSON 4.1: BACKGROUND TO PROTESTANTISM

2. Unit Overview Students will analyze how conflict and compromise have shaped politics, economics and culture in the United States.

3. WARM UP Why are there so many denominations of Christian churches today?

4. THE POWER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

5. AMID THE WEAK CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS IN FEUDAL EUROPE, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH EMERGED AS A POWERFUL INSTITUTION. AS THE CHURCH EXPANDED ITS POLITICAL ROLE, STRONG RULERS BEGAN TO QUESTION THE POPE’S AUTHORITY.

6. THE FAR REACHING AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH POPES TENDED TO SEE EUROPE AS THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH, WITH THE POPE AS THE LEADER KINGS HAD DIFFERING VIEWS ONLY THE CHURCH COULD ADMINISTER THE SACRAMENTS, OR RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES THEREFOR, SALVATION CAME THROUGH THE CHURCH

7. LUTHER STARTS THE REFORMATION

8. MAIN IDEA: MARTIN LUTHER’S PROTESTS OVER ABUSES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH LED TO THE FOUNDING OF PROTESTANT CHURCHES. WHY IT MATTERS NOW: THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF OUR NATION TODAY WERE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE PROTESTANT IDEOLOGY BROUGHT FORTH BY OUR EARLY SETTLERS.

9. CAUSES OF THE REFORMATION RENAISSANCE IDEAS AND THE CORRUPT CLERGY UNDERMINE THE CHURCH’S AUTHORITY. SEVERAL CHURCH LEADERS CALL FOR REFORM.

10. LUTHER CHALLENGES THE CHURCH MARTIN LUTHER, A GERMAN MONK, PROTESTS THE SALE OF INDULGENCES. IN 1517, THE REFORMATION BEGINS WHEN MARTIN LUTHER POSTS THE 95 THESES ATTACKING THE SALE OF INDULGENCES ON A CHURCH DOOR IN WITTENBURG. LUTHER TEACHES HIS VIEWS ON THE PATH TO SALVATION AND THE INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE. JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH BIBLE REAL SOURCE OF AUTHORITY ALL PEOPLE WITH FAITH ARE EQUAL UNDER GOD

11. IMPACT OF THE REFORMATION ON THE UNITED STATES IDEAS OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND EQUALITY NEW FORMS OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES BELIEF THAT GOVERNMENT MUST BE BASED ON AGREEMENT OF GOVERNED.

12. Activity Clip from “Luther” showing indulgences. Primary source Doc. (95 Thesis)

13. REFLECTION IN YOUR JOURNAL, SUMMARIZE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED TODAY ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF PROTESTANTISM.