1. 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.

2. I. Calls for Catholic Reform
A. Europeans criticized growing wealth & power of Catholic Church
1. Martin Luther wanted to reform Catholic Church
2. The Reformation instead led to new form of Christianity, Protestantism
B. As early as 1300s, Europeans saw problems in the Church
1. Many bishops grew wealthy & built palaces
2. Many local priests could barely read
C. Church began selling indulgences
Indulgence - certificate of forgiveness of sin
D. People were angry about Church’s focus on money

3. I. Calls for Catholic Reform
E. John Wycliffe believed everyone should be able to read Bible
1. Translated Bible from Latin to English
F. Erasmus - Believed people should use reason to receive faith
1. Believed Christians should do good in everyday lives, not just Sundays
2. This would reform church & society
3. Wrote Praise of Folly to criticize Church corruption

4. II. Martin Luther
A. Supported reform in Catholic Church, opposed by Pope
B. Became angry when Pope sent monks across Europe selling indulgences
1. How could the church put a price on God’s forgiveness?
C. Prepared 95 arguments (Ninety-five Theses) against the Church
1. Thousands of copies read across Germany

5. II. Martin Luther D. Luther taught only Jesus was head of the Church
1. No man on earth or amount of money could save person from sin
E. Pope Leo X asked Luther to recant (deny) his statements
1. Luther refused & was excommunicated
F. Founded first Protestant Church, called Lutheran
Protestant – root word is protest; opposed Catholic practices
G. Lutheran church based on 2 main ideas:
1. Faith in Jesus, not good works, provides place in heaven
2. The Bible is the authority for truth about God

6. III. John Calvin A. John Calvin studied law & religion in Paris
1. Agreed with Luther about Protestantism
2. Fled Paris when it became too dangerous to speak about Protestantism
B. Calvin believed in predestination
1. Predestination - God decides outcome of all things
2. God decides who will go to heaven & who will not

7. IV. England’s Reformation
A. Early Reformation in England was political - King Henry VIII vs. Pope Clement VII
Henry wanted to divorce first wife, Catherine of Aragon
Pope would not allow divorce; he did not want to anger Ferdinand & Isabella
3. Henry divorced Catherine; Pope excommunicated him
4. Henry became head of the new Church of England
a. Seized Catholic lands in England & gave to nobles

8. V. Bloody Mary & Elizabeth
A. Church of England accepted some Protestant ideas
1. Kept most Catholic rituals
B. Most English Catholics supported Henry’s daughter, Mary, when she became Queen
1. Mary I restored Catholic Church, arrested Protestants
2. More than 300 Protestants burned at the stake
3. Many English turned against Mary, calling her “Bloody Mary”
C. Mary died in 1558 & her sister Elizabeth became Queen
1. Elizabeth I restored Church of England, became one of England’s greatest rulers

9. VI. The Puritans in England
A. Some English became Calvinists, known as Puritans
1. Wanted to purify the Church of England of Catholic ways
B. Elizabeth tolerated Puritans
C. James I felt threatened by Puritans
1. Closed churches, arrested leaders
2. Many Puritans left England, settled in N. America
3. One group, the Pilgrims, separated from Church of England, founded Plymouth colony in Massachusetts