Peace of Westphalia

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/peace-of-westphalia

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the date of treaties?Signed October 24, 1648
2. What is the location of negotiations?Münster and Osnabrück, within the historical region of Westphalia
3. What was the Peace of Westphalia and why was it important?It was a big treaty signed in 1648 that ended the Thirty Years' War and showed that countries could solve problems by talking instead of fighting.
4. How did the Peace of Westphalia change rules about religion in Europe?It let each country choose its own religion and recognized Calvinism, Catholicism, and Lutheranism as equal, so people could practice their faith without being forced by others.

Thirty Years' War: A complex and devastating series of conflicts in Central Europe (1618-1648) with religious and political origins.
State Sovereignty: The supreme, independent authority of a state to govern itself without external interference or control.
Multilateral Diplomacy: Cooperative interaction and negotiation among three or more states to address common issues.
Secularization: The process by which religious influence on public life and institutions diminishes.