Question

What was a political effect of the Reformation?

a) As the Church's authority declined, so did the power of the European monarchs (kings).
b) As the Church's authority increased, so did the power of European monarchs (kings).
c) As the Church's authority declined, European monarchs (kings) gained power.
d) As the Church's authority increased, European monarchs (kings) lost power.

Answer 1

C) As the Church's authority declined during the Reformation, European monarchs gained power. This shift enabled rulers to assert greater control over their nations, diminishing the role of the Church in political affairs.

Step-by-step explanation:

Political Effect of the Reformation

The Reformation was a period of significant change in 16th century Europe, which saw the questioning and decline of the Roman Catholic Church's authority. A political effect of the Reformation was that C) as the Church's authority declined, European monarchs (kings) gained power.

The Reformation provided an opportunity for these rulers to weaken the power of the Papacy and enhance their own standing.

Before the Reformation, rulers like those in England and France depended on the Church to validate their legitimacy. However, with the onset of the Reformation, this connection was disrupted.

Martin Luther's criticisms of the Church, including its practices and the Papal authority, catalyzed a movement that led to the rise of Protestantism and a decline in the Church's influence over political matters.

The aftermath of political upheavals, such as the English civil wars and the "Glorious Revolution," further established the tendency for monarchs to dominate over religious institutions, limiting the Church's direct control over state affairs.