Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation
About the Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation Lesson
Summary
This lesson introduces students to the Protestant Reformation.
Objectives
• To be able to identify the cause of the Reformation.
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To be able to describe Luther?s role in the Reformation.
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To be able to describe the Counter Reformation.
Suggested Grades
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
Excerpt
Martin Luther was born in 1483 in Germany. He joined a monastery when he was twenty-one and became a friar. Luther eventually became upset with the Catholic Church because he felt it was more interested in making money than in helping people. He thought that some of the popes acted like ruthless monarchs instead of spiritual leaders.
During a pilgrimage to Rome in 1510, Luther saw priests that were living like royalty instead of like monks. He knew that priests were making money by selling indulgences. An indulgence is a pardon from a priest for sins committed. Some people believed that buying indulgences would get them into heaven in spite of their sins.
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