Ap Euro Dbq Essay

Pobj Summan

AP Euro

Period 4

10-17-2017

DBQ During the 16th century the large religious movement known as the Protestant Reformation took place. Protestantism was a new way of religion that challenged the usual Catholic religion. It was a very controversial idea throughout Europe, where as many countries accepted it as their religion but the countries part of the Holy Roman Empire were against it. Protestants most likely opposed the basic Catholic values, they did not like the way the Holy Roman Empire was run, and they disapproved of the Pope. Between 1524 and 1526, the new changes that were brought by the reformation such as the teachings of Luther depicted personal freedoms of the peasants, which were simply not present in Germany, as these

For example, Sebastian Lotzer, a craftsperson and a lay preacher, and Christoph Schappeler write, in the Twelve Articles of the Swabian Peasants, “We will not allow ourselves hereafter to be oppressed by our lords but will demand only what is just and proper”, this showed that the peasants did not agree with their landowners. This document was likely written in order to express the idea that the conditions that the peasants faced were not fair, so they could tell the religious and political figures opposing the revolutions that the peasants would only work if it was in fair conditions (Doc. 2). Similarly, In the Articles of the Peasants of Memmingen, The Peasant Parliament of Swabia to the Memmingen Town council write “…we have been held as your poor serfs…But it is not our intention to reject all authority. We will be obedient to all authority appointed by god in all fair and reasonable matters”, this again shows that the peasants do not reject the authority of the landholders intentionally, but instead because they are being held as poor serfs to the abusive landowners. This document is likely a reliable source since it was written by 2 men in the regular working class, and it was written in the Articles of the Peasants of Memmingen, to be read by the opposition (Doc. 3). Also,

One example, is when Leonhard von Eck, the Chancellor of Bavaria, explains how the peasants are acting “blinded, led astray, and made witless”, he tries to make the peasants look bad and tries to put all the blame on him. I think that Leonhard is likely not a reliable source of information as he may be making false claims to try to control the situation in his report to the Duke of Bavaria (Doc. 1). Similarly, Martin Luther says ,in the Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants ,that the peasants are out of place, and use the Bible to express their desire for freedom. I think that this displays how the religious figures might view the revolt. Martin Luther likely wrote Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants so he is not held accountable for the revolt, since Luther had written about Christian religious freedoms he didn't want anyone to link him directly to the revolts (Doc. 5). Luther did not believe in this deadly revolt, he saw the freedom of the Christian in spiritual ways instead of a deadly battle that took the lives of almost 100,000. Lastly, In the Decree of the Imperial Diet of Speyer, the effects are clearly stated, this document shows some of the actions that the government takes in order to suppress and the actions it takes, punishments such as stripping of their lands were put in place ,after the revolts to prevent