Martin Luther the Hero of the Reformation 1483 to 1546 Essay - 1

Martin Luther the Hero of the Reformation 1483 to 1546 - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Martin Luther’s parents were so devoted to teaching him the ways and the fear of God from his childhood. In the year 1517, during the day of All Saints, and he was then a theology professor at the University of Wittenberg, he made a posting of 95 theses on the door of the church. His major concern in the theses was the disposal of indulgences in the afterlife as depicted by the papal grants and the inclusion of purgatory releases. The present research has identified that Martin Luther first wrote the theses in Latin but translated the whole work into German. This work of the theses prompted a summoning by the church for an explanation to the authorities. The paper tells that Martin Luther would later get involved in more controversy and in the year 1520, he made writings about papacy's corruption, the supremacy of faith as compared to the good works and the acknowledgment of only two out of seven sacraments' validity. Due to this, in 1521 he was mad e to appear before the then emperor Charles the 5TH. The conclusion from this study states that Martin Luther, despite all the summoning and his open criticism of the church, he was not to recant these writings. The result was his banning under the Worms Edict. According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that it was his numerous disagreements with the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrines that sparked many events and within a few years marred the unity of German religion.

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

History - Essay Example Social activists and reformists advocated for favourable attitude towards the urban-industrial society and called for efficient government intervention. The intervention sought to resolve economic and social disparities owing to unfriendly policies that favoured a selected few (Eisenstark et al 3). The movement argued that the government should be an agent of human welfare, an aspect that ought to cut across socioeconomic levels. In addition, progressives were against large corporations that were seen to have poor working conditions with little compensation. As such, the movement sought responsible citizenship and democracy with regard to elections, referendum, and recall. In light of this, the progressives recommended the adoption of secret ballot during elections, candidate nomination through primaries, and direct election of senators under political reforms. The movement also urged for regulation of large corporations and monopolies, which were seen to benefit top management at th e expense of the employees. Progressives called for social justice to limit child and female labour and drinking. Intensive lobbying by the progressives achieved changes in various aspects of life under prevailing conditions. These changes saw social, economic, and political reforms that were geared towards quelling public dissatisfaction. Social reforms majored on education, women rights, and problems facing minorities in America society. The lack of education was illustrated as a major cause increasing levels of poverty and progressives advocated for modernisation of schools. Changes in the education system transformed schoolhouses into consolidated school districts that offered graded class. Prohibition laws were also established in an effort to curb rampant alcohol consumption in saloons, which were regarded as gathering placing for political machines (Milkis and Mileur 138). The progressives concern of alcohol consumption was based on the negative effects felt at social and eco nomic levels. The prohibition laws served to encourage efficiency in the economic front as employers were in need of sober workers. Minority groups, particularly African Americans faced increasing violence in most parts of the country owing to the tension over economic competition. As such, African Americans were lynched and executed, which initiated calls for laws against such acts. Progressives worked to end such atrocities against the African Americans signalling the beginning of struggles against racial discrimination. African American organisations cultivated for local approvals from the majority whites to establish black educational institutions such as Tuskegee Institute. Progressive concerns about deplorable working conditions and child labour were characteristic of economic reforms. The reforms stipulated and enforced safety regulation with frequent inspections serving to improve the working conditions of workers. In addition, the employers were expected to offer injury com pensation for all workers. Similarly, some states passed laws limiting working hours for women while abolishing child labour and setting a minimum age for employment. However, this did not settle in well for some families that needed more income in order to survive. In line with improving the living standards, progressives advocated for housing laws that aimed at replacing tenements with better housing. The tenements were settlement houses