Category: World History II

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 3a, 3b, 3c: Reformation, Counter-Reformation, and Printing Press

Standard WH II:
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the Reformation in terms of its impact on Western civilization by

Objectives:
SOL 3a: explaining the effects of the theological, political, and economic differences that emerged, including the views and actions of Martin Luther, John Calvin, Henry VIII, and Elizabeth
SOL 3b: describing the impact of religious conflicts, the Inquisition, and Catholic Reformation on society and government actions.
SOL 3c: describing changing cultural values, traditions, and philosophies, and assessing the role of the printing press.
Lesson Plans
Introduction: A Bell-ringer activity
Notes: Students copy-down and discuss teacher generated notes
Activities: Students complete various in class activities to support learning including video analysis, maps, charts, diagrams, graphic organizers, worksheets, text-book questions, group discussion, KWL Charts etc.
Assessment: Informal, Formal, Exit-Questions, Teacher Questioning. Quizzes, Tests, Projects
Essential Knowledge:

SOL 3a: Conflicts that challenged the authority of the
Church in Rome
• Merchant wealth challenged the Church’s view of
usury.
• German and English nobility disliked Italian
domination of the Church.
• The Church’s great political power and wealth
caused conflict.
• Church corruption and the sale of indulgences
were widespread and caused conflict.
Martin Luther (the Lutheran tradition)
• Views: Salvation by faith alone, Bible as the
ultimate authority, all humans equal before God
• Actions: 95 theses, birth of the Protestant Church
John Calvin (the Calvinist tradition)
• Views: Predestination, faith revealed by living a
righteous life, work ethic
• Actions: Expansion of the Protestant Movement
King Henry VIII
• Views: Dismissed the authority of the Pope in
Rome
• Actions: Divorced; broke with Rome; headed the
national church in England; appropriated lands and
wealth of the Roman Catholic Church in England
Queen Elizabeth I
• Anglican Church
• Tolerance for dissenters
• Expansion and colonialism
• Victory over the Spanish Armada (1588)

SOL 3b: Reformation in Germany
• Princes in Northern Germany
converted to Protestantism, ending
the authority of the Pope in their
states.
• The Hapsburg family and the
authority of the Holy Roman Empire
continued to support the Roman
Catholic Church.
• Conflict between Protestants and
Catholics resulted in devastating
wars (e.g., Thirty Years’ War).
Reformation in France
• Catholic monarchy granted
Protestant Huguenots freedom of
worship by the Edict of Nantes (later
revoked).
• Cardinal Richelieu changed the
focus of the Thirty Years’ War from
a religious to a political conflict.
Catholic Reformation
• Dissenters prior to Martin Luther:
Jan Huss, John Wycliffe
• Counter-Reformation:
– The Council of Trent reaffirmed
most Church doctrine and
practices.
– The Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)
was founded to spread Catholic
doctrine around the world.
– The Inquisition was used to
reinforce Catholic doctrine.

SOL 3c: Changing cultural values, traditions,
and philosophies
• Growth of secularism
• Growth of individualism
• Eventual growth of religious
tolerance
Role of the printing press
• Growth of literacy was stimulated by
the Gutenberg printing press.
• The Bible was printed in English,
French, and German.
• These factors had an important
impact on spreading the ideas of the
Reformation and the Renaissance.

Activities That Support Lesson Plans

SOL 3a:

Reformation Poster Project

Reformation Reading 95 Thesis

SOL 3b:

SOL 3c:

None. Students copy down notes.

Supplementary Videos

Note: The above activities are best used with the Virginia Prentice Hall World History: The Modern Era textbook.

Back to World History II Virginia SOL Page

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