Social Sciences and History / Unit 4 SSH 0309 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Classifying a Reformation by Its Cause
The idea
The exam asks why a given reformation happened, and the anchor supplies four causes. Doctrinal: Luther's conviction that salvation came by faith, not works, which made indulgences a fraud and the Church's mediation unnecessary. Theological extension: Calvin's reasoning that an all-knowing God had already chosen the saved, so free will was an illusion and Geneva should be governed accordingly. Dynastic: Henry the Eighth's need for a male heir and the pope's refusal of a divorce, which produced a national church with Catholic doctrine and a royal head. Institutional: the Catholic Reformation's drive to correct abuses and reaffirm doctrine, which produced the Inquisition, Trent, and the Jesuits.
In practice
Given "a monarch made himself head of his country's church after a marriage dispute", dynastic: England. Given "a reformer taught that God had predetermined who would be saved", theological: Calvin. Given "a theologian denied that good works could earn salvation", doctrinal: Luther. Given "a council reaffirmed every contested doctrine while ordering bishops to reside in their dioceses", institutional: Trent. Ask what the reformer wanted changed and what he left standing.
Where people slip
The trap is treating the English Reformation as doctrinal. Henry kept Catholic doctrine; only the head changed. The second trap is calling the Catholic Reformation a mere reaction; the anchor says its reform impulse predated Luther.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it