Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam

How did the Protestant Reformation alter the relationship between church and state in Europe?

1. It removed all religious influences from political affairs

2. It led to the consolidation of religious power within monarchies

3. It replaced monarchies with church-led governments

4. It resulted in the independence of church and state

The correct answer is: It led to the consolidation of religious power within monarchies

The Protestant Reformation significantly altered the relationship between church and state in Europe by bolstering the power of monarchies and allowing them to assert greater control over religious matters within their realms. As various regions adopted Protestant beliefs, especially in Northern Europe, rulers used the Reformation as a means to diminish the power of the Catholic Church and to establish their sovereignty. Monarchs who supported the Reformation could seize church lands, redistribute wealth, and suppress the influence of the Catholic clergy, thus intertwining their governance with the new Protestant ideologies. This consolidation of religious power within monarchies was exemplified by leaders like Henry VIII in England, who created the Church of England to break free from papal authority, and by the spread of Lutheranism in territories governed by princes who embraced the Reformation. In many cases, this resulted in a stronger link between the church and the state, where rulers integrated religious reforms into their governmental structures, further solidifying their control. Therefore, the relationship between church and state evolved into one where the state dominated religious institutions, creating a new political and religious landscape across Europe.