Outline
I. Strain in relations between Protestant and Catholic nations
A. Wars broke out
B. Less unity between different European nations
II. Strain within own countries
A. civil wars
B. flaws more visible
C. more vulnerable to attacks
In the first half of the sixteenth century consequences of the Protestant reformation could be seen. Europe was not as united as it once was when only one religion was accepted. After the Reformation, more people began voicing their opinions and things and this caused revolts and wars between countries, along with flaws within to be more prominent. The Reformation did have bright spots where economies were increased and religious tolerance began. The consequences of the Reformation during the first half of the century, both political and social, caused strain in relations between the common people and the nobility of their country, along with relations between country and country that lead to an overall weakening of Europe at the time before it was later strengthened as a whole.
One of the most visible consequence of the Protestant reformation during the first half of the 16th century can still be seen today. The Catholic Spanish Armada of Spain was a fleet of ships sent to attack Protestant England. The Armada was embarrassingly destroyed and Spain went from a strong European power to being in grave danger of falling apart. Spain has still not recovered fully and this weakened Europe as a whole. Another consequence of the Protestant Reformation was the Pilgrimage of Grace from 1536-1537. This was a group of Catholic followers who demonstrated against Henry VII, the Protestant English King. This showed the flaws within England itself as some of the common people within England were against the political leaders. This could be seen as a weakness to other European powers such as France.
Relations between neighboring European countries were also strained. England's Queen Elizabeth I had Mary Queen of Scots imprisoned in the Tower of London. Elizabeth was a Protestant Queen and Mary was Catholic of Catholic Spain. The Protestant reformation then had a great consequence on Spain, their Queen was imprisoned. The Reformation helped certain countries at the time it was happening, but other countries were taking steps backwards. Thoughts of alliances were beginning to form between the powers of Europe who shared the same religion after the Reformation. Social, gaps and separation could be seen in countries where the common people had different views than the nobility. This causes uproars from within the countries, leaving them vulnerable to factors outside of their own borders. The Reformation was so dominating and radical, it caught the attention of everyone, and took attention off the preexisting problems.
Nobility had to deal with issues and complaints from the Religious officials. Martin Luther who played a major part in the Protestant reformation was prosecuted by the Catholic Church at the start of the Reformation. Out of Lutheranism sprouted many variations of Protestant religion. This caused the Protestant Reformation to gain power and speed, in turn causing more consequences. People who remained Catholic were imprisoned, executed, or exiled from their homes. Even though it was a religious reformation, people were still being murdered for their beliefs. Religious wars the the Thirty Years War were results of the Reformation itself.
The Protestant Reformation caused rocky roads for the people of Europe in the first half of the 16th century. Radical changes were being made and as always there were supports and people who were against it. The Reformation was not all bad, as certain countries such as the Dutch Republic later went through a "Golden Age" of prosperity. But during the first half of the 16th century when the changes were beginning to take place, the reformation to a toll on European society. This had to get worse before they could get better from the Protestant Reformation, and that is exactly what it did.
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