The spirit of inquiry of the Renaissance, as well as the existence of widespread abuses of the Church, led to new challenges to the Pope’s authority. The Church had vast power, but also suffered from corruption. Some Church officials used their positions for self-enrichment. People such as Erasmus and Sir Thomas Moore sought reform within the Church.

In 1517, Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses on a church door in Wittenberg, Germany. His theses questioned the Roman Catholic Church’s teachings and called for reforms. Wittenberg is a city in the Northeastern region of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.

In 1518 Rome demanded that Luther recant, and after a number of meetings and writings, pope Leo X issued Exsurge Domine, threatening him with excommunication. After Friedrich the Wise demanded that Luther be given an opportunity to defend himself before being outlawed, he appeared before the newly elected Emperor, Karl V (Charles V) at the Diet of Worms in April 1521. Luther stated before the Diet the following:

“I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me. Amen.”

Martin Luther, quoted in The Protestant Reformation by Louis W. Spitz

You are an advisor chosen to be part of a committee to help create a report. This report will be delivered to the emperor Karl V and will help him decide what path he should take to deal with the growing number of supporter within Germany for Martin Luther.

Portrait of Martin Luther

Your group’s mission is to work as an advisory committee to the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Your committee’s goal is to create a report using the GHHPA worksheets, containing evidence for the problems that led to Luther’s revolutionary activity against the Roman Catholic Church in Germany and ultimately Western Europe. Your group will research the problems caused by the Roman Catholic Church in Germany, evaluate the policies of Luther to deal with the problems and do a comparative analysis of the Roman Catholic Church’s future policy to deal with the problem with Luther’s reforms. Your committee’s work could save the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from religious civil war.

Religious Division within the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation and Europe

I. Your Group will research the causes of the Protestant Reformation according to Martin Luther’s ideas concerning the claimed social problems caused by the Roman Catholic Church in Germany.

II. Your group will use each of the following GHHPA TIPS worksheets to complete the assignment. The assignment must be completed before your group presentation is given. You will use the internet links from the resource area of the Webquest to complete the GHHPA worksheets.

Identify Problem	Identify the problem that caused the Protestant Reformation.
Gather the Evidence	Gather evidence of the problem
Determine Causes	Determine the causes of the problem that caused the Protestant Reformation.
Evaluate the Policy	Evaluate the policy that the Protestant Reformation created to deal with the problems that caused it.
Do a Comparative Analysis	Compare the policy researched by your group with that of the Roman Catholic Church’s Counter Reformation.

III. After the completion of the GHPPA TIPS worksheets each group will then select presenters to make an in-class brief ten minute presentation on the completed GHHPA worksheets. The group is to explain what problem the beliefs of the Protestant Reformation solved. Finally your group will evaluate the public policy followed by the Roman Catholic Church to deal with the Protestant Reformation.

IV. The final assignment will be the completion of a Thematic Essay based on the use of the GHPPA worksheets. Thematic Essay will be graded according to the New York State Global Studies and Geography Regents Rubric.

Martin Luther Preaching in Germany

Social Problems caused by Policies of the Roman Catholic Church In Germany

Sale of the Indulgences

History of Abuse of the Papacy

Corrupt Priests and Church Officials

Salvation through Good Works

Questioning of Traditional Rituals and Some of the Sacraments

Luther’s Key Policies to Social Problems caused by the Roman Catholic Church

The Ninety-Five Theses

Acceptance of the Bible as key source of revelation

Salvation of the Soul by Faith Alone

Universal Priesthood of all Believers

The German Mass

Questioning of Traditional Rituals and Some of the Sacraments

The Catholic Counter Reformation Policy

Origins of the Counter Reformation

Reforms of the Catholic Church

Phases of the Counter Reformation

Name: ________________________

Teacher: Mr. Niebergall_

Date of Presentation: ____________

Group Number: ___________________

Criteria

Points

	1	2	3	4
Organization	Audience cannot understand presentation because there is no sequence of information.	Audience has difficulty following presentation because student jumps around.	Student presents information in logical sequence which audience can follow.	Student presents information in logical, interesting sequence which audience can follow.	____
Content Knowledge	Student does not have grasp of information; student cannot answer questions about subject.	Student is uncomfortable with information and is able to answer only rudimentary questions.	Student is at ease with content, but fails to elaborate.	Student demonstrates full knowledge (more than required) with explanations and elaboration.	____
Delivery	Student mumbles, incorrectly pronounces terms, and speaks too quietly for students in the back of class to hear.	Student incorrectly pronounces terms. Audience members have difficulty hearing presentation.	Student's voice is clear. Student pronounces most words correctly.	Student used a clear voice and correct, precise pronunciation of terms.	____
				Total---->	____

Grade of A--10-12 Grade of B--7-9 Grade of C--4-6 Grade of F--1-3

“Ein Feste Burg ist Unser Gott” – “A Mighty Fortress is our God” –Martin Luther

The Reformation had enduring effects. Protestant churches flourished, despite religious wars and persecutions. The Protestant Reformation ended Western Europe’s religious unity. As the Roman Catholic’s power declined, individual monarchs and states gained power. Your group’s presentation based on the GHPPA worksheets will help the Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation, Karl V, decide what path he should take to deal with the growing Protestant religion and hopefully bring peace to Europe.

Thanks for Your Participation!

Martin Luther before the German Emperor Karl V (Charles V), The Diet of Worms, 1521

Harry S Truman High School Global Studies II

Sana Q. Nasser, Principal Mr. Niebergall

THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION

Directions: Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several

paragraphs addressing the task below, and a conclusion.

Theme: Religious Revolution and Reformation

Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses sparked a religious revolution and reformation in Germany and Western Europe.

Task:

• Define the term Protestant Reformation.
• Explain the causes of the Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther.
• Explain the policies followed by Martin Luther to solve the problems caused by the activities of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany
• Compare and contrast the Policies of Luther with that of the policies followed by the Roman Catholic Church during the Counter Reformation.

Suggestions For Completion of Thematic Essay:

Use all the information gathered from the GHPPA worksheets to complete the Thematic Essay Assignment.

Guidelines:

In your essay, be sure to:

• Address all aspects of the Task
• Support the theme with relevant facts, examples, and details
• Use a logical and clear plan of organization
• Introduce the theme by establishing a framework that is beyond a simple restatement of the Task and conclude with a summation of the theme

English Language Arts Performance Standards

E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2a: Produce a report of information.

Standard 2:   World History

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in world history and examine the broad sweep of history from a variety of perspectives.