Martin Luther disagreed with Johann Tetzel's preaching that selling indulgences would forgive sins. Because Luther disagreed with these beliefs, he wrote to the Archbishop of Mainz asking him to stop Tetzel from selling indulgences. Luther knew the Pope wanted to sell indulgences to raise money for the Catholic Church to build a new basilica. However, since the Pope was already very rich, Luther argued that he could pay for the church himself without having to sell indulgences to poor people.

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NAME DATE CLASS
Renaissance and Reformation
21st Century Skills
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving:
Determining Cause and Effect
Learning the Skill
Determining cause and effect can help you analyze why an event took
place. A cause is the reason that something happened. To determine a
cause, ask, “Why did this event happen?” The event is the effect, or the
result of a cause. To determine an effect ask, “What happened?”
As you read, look for linking words that may signal cause and effect.
Examples include: because, so, since, as a result, in spite of, if . . . then,
and nevertheless.
Sample cause and effect statement:
Because Martin Luther studied the Bible cause
he gained a new understanding about the
Church’s teachings
effect
As you read, you may find it useful to mark the linking words that help
you identify causes and effects.
Practicing the Skill Read this paragraph, and answer the
questions that follow.
Martin Luther and the Reformation In 1517 a friar named Johann
Tetzel preached about the importance of letters of indulgence.
Tetzel claimed that if a person bought a letter of indulgence, that
person’s sins would be forgiven. Martin Luther heard about Tetzel’s
preaching. Because he disagreed with Tetzel’s beliefs, he wrote to
Archbishop Albert of Mainz. He asked that the archbishop stop
Tetzel from selling indulgences. Luther knew that the pope wanted
to sell indulgences in order to raise money for the Catholic Church.
Lesson 3 The Reformation Begins
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2. CopyrightbyTheMcGraw-HillCompanies.
NAME DATE CLASS
Renaissance and Reformation
21st Century Skills Cont.
In his letter, Luther noted that the pope was selling indulgences to
build a basilica, or large church. Since the pope himself was very
rich, Luther said, he could pay for a basilica with his own money. If
he paid for the church himself, Luther argued, he would not have to
sell indulgences to poor people.
1. What was the effect of Johann Tetzel’s preaching?
2. What was the cause of the Church’s policy of selling
indulgences?
3. Use the following three sentences to create cause and
effect statements. Label each cause and effect. Use
connecting words where possible.
The pope was very rich. The pope could pay for the
church himself. Poor people would not have to buy
indulgences.
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3. CopyrightbyTheMcGraw-HillCompanies.
NAME DATE CLASS
Renaissance and Reformation
21st Century Skills Cont.
Applying the Skill
Read the following paragraph. Then write three cause and effect
statements based on information in the paragraph. Label the causes and
effects in your statements.
Indulgences In the 1200s and 1300s, popes began to grant
many indulgences. Indulgences were documents that promised
forgiveness to sinners. At this time, popes wanted people to fight
in the Crusades. The popes promised that if Christians took part in
these holy wars, then their sins would be forgiven. In the 1400s,
Pope Sixtus IV declared that dead people also could be granted
indulgences. As a result, friends and relatives of the dead began
to buy indulgences to make sure that their loved ones would reach
heaven.
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