“The Protestant Reformation was primarily an economic event.”

1. FRQ “The Protestant Reformation was primarily an economic event.” By describing and determining the relative importance of the economic, political and religious causes of the Protestant Reformation, defend or refute this statement. • What is being asked? • Was the Protestant Reformation primarily an economic event? • What you need to know to address the question: • The economic, political and religious causes of the Protestant Reformation • The relative importance of these causes THESIS STATEMENT: Though primarily a religion-oriented event, the Protestant Reformation also had political and economic dimensions reflecting the complexity of an event that was started by a simple man.

2. ESSAY FRAMEWORK Though primarily a religion-oriented event, the Protestant Reformation also had political and economic dimensions reflecting a complexity to an event that was started by a simple man. INTRODUCTION WITH THESIS STATEMENT TOPIC SENTENCE Politics and power played a major role in the Protestant Reformation. EVIDENCE/EXAMPLES PARAGRAPH 1 OF THE BODY Economics, or better yet the disparity of wealth between different groups played an important role in the Protestant Reformation. TOPIC SENTENCE PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE BODY EVIDENCE/EXAMPLES TOPIC SENTENCE The desire to return to a more simple religion, which had its roots in Christian Humanism, was at the core of the Protestant Reformation. PARAGRAPH 3 OF THE BODY EVIDENCE/EXAMPLES CONCLUSION