Peasant Revolt Dbq

AP European History

Peasant Revolt DBQ 1524 to 1526 was an upsetting time in the Holy Roman Empire’s history. There was a lot of chaos due to the uprising and revolts of peasants. Lutheranism, serfdom, no money, and nobilities power over peasants caused the revolts. In response to these causes, peasants attacked the catholic church, wrecked havoc on nobility property, were allowed to buy their way out of serfdom, and developed money redistribution philosophies. Though in the end, the results had little effect on years following the revolts. One cause of the peasant revolts in Germany was the rise of Lutheranism. Lutheranism, a religion established by Martin Luther, was the Catholic church’s biggest competitor. Throughout Germany in the 1500’s many peasants had converted from Catholicism to Lutheranism. The Great Schism, indulgences, pluralism and absenteeism turned the Catholic church into a very corrupt hierarchy, and Lutheranism seemed to offer a purer version of christianity. In a report to Duke Ludwig of Bavaria, Leonhard von Eck wrote that the peasant's revolt has “its ultimate source in Lutheran teaching” (Document 1.) As the Chancellor of Bavaria, it is no surprise that Leonhard would blame the uprising entirely on Lutheranism, instead of acknowledging the many faults of nobles and their governing.The new religion of Lutheranism caused many peasants to have a hostile view of of Catholicism. This resulted in the peasants to attack the clergy. Count Wilhelm von Henneberg wrote in a letter that the peasant revolts “pleased [nobility] well that the rebellion attacked the priests and the monks” (document 11.) Because Wilhelm von Henneberg was a noble himself, he is an excellent source because he may have taken delight in the peasants attacking the church first, instead of

nobles and the rich. Many preachers of Lutheranism did not understand that the religion advocated for reform in the church only. Thomas Muntzer, for example, was a preacher and theologian....