Religiously, the Reformation divided Christianity into many different denominations. The Catholic Church faced competition from new Protestant sects, leading to the establishment of various beliefs and practices. 

The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 eventually helped to end many of these conflicts by allowing rulers to choose the religion of their states. 

As a result, the Church was fractured, giving rise to the various Christian denominations (different types) that exist today. Denominations such as Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Episcopalians, and Calvinists are a few examples of the various branches of Christianity today. 

The Protestant Reformation directly resulted in the creation of the different denominations of Christianity we see today. While each denomination shares some similar beliefs, it has specific differences that make it unique. This fragmentation allowed for greater religious diversity but also resulted in conflicts and wars over which religion was the true faith. 

The Catholic Counter-Reformation was a response to the Protestant Reformation to try and maintain power. The Church was weakened due to the influence of the Protestant Reformation and the conversion of Europeans kingdoms to Protestantism. 

The Church made several changes to try and lessen the negative effects of the Protestants’ calls for reform in the Church. Council of Trent was held to redefine Catholic doctrine (teachings) and stop the spread of the Protestants in Europe. 

Two important outcomes of the Council were the ending of the sale of indulgences and the Church requiring its clergy to follow a strict code of conduct.

The movement also had economic impacts. Another Reformation leader, John Calvin, taught a doctrine of predestination and hard work. He taught that financial success was a sign that a person was destined to achieve salvation in the afterlife and that merchants who succeeded in business did so because God looked upon them favorably.

This gave rise to what is known as the “Protestant Work Ethic,” which led to the development of capitalism's economic system in many Protestant countries, such as England and the U.S.

Calvinism is a theological system that emphasizes God's sovereignty and the Bible's authority. It is named after John Calvin, a French reformer who embraced Protestant beliefs in the late 1520s or early 1530s.

The Reformation led to significant changes in political power. Before the Reformation, the Catholic Church had a lot of influence over European rulers. However, as reformers like Martin Luther questioned the Church's authority, many leaders began to support these new ideas. This shift reduced the Church's power and allowed rulers to gain more control over their countries.

European nations align themselves as either Catholic or Protestant, and the two sides become violent with one another due to their religious differences. Political chaos began as Europe became politically divided along religious lines. Some regions, like Germany and Switzerland, became Protestant, while others remained Catholic, leading to conflicts like the Thirty Years' War. 

In Protestant countries, people no longer had allegiance (loyalty) to the Pope. Instead, the people came to rely on their King as the highest authority.

In Catholic countries, the Church gave more power to Kings to help them fight against Protestantism and Protestant countries.

Overall, the general relationship between religion and politics became very strained, and the close connection between the two had never been restored during the Middle Ages.

As Europeans began to fight each other over their religious beliefs, a terrible new trend began to emerge. The Office of the Inquisition was responsible for hunting down and interrogating anyone who did not agree with the state’s religion.

The punishment of perceived heretics in both the Catholic and Protestant churches grew with the spread of the Inquisition. Inquisition courts in Catholic Spain were responsible for the large-scale killing of thousands of Protestants, Jews, and Muslims: anyone who denied or opposed the teachings of The Catholic Church. Torture techniques were used to get answers or confessions from heretics.

In Protestant England, the Office of the Inquisition similarly hunted down, arrested, tortured, and executed Catholics because they believed them to be spies sent by England’s enemies in France and Spain.

The conflict between Protestant and Catholic nations would lead to a century of religious warfare worldwide.

King Henry VIII was one of the most famous Kings of England. He is best known for having had six wives during his lifetime. Henry became King before the events of the Reformation.

As King, he was very upset when he learned that his first wife could not produce a son and male heir to the throne. He wanted out of the marriage; however, divorce was not allowed in the Catholic Church during this time.

He wanted out of the marriage so badly that he decided that England would break away from the Catholic Church and created the Anglican Church of England. England was now a Protestant country, which angered Catholic nations such as France and Spain, leading to war between these countries.

Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII and became Queen of England a few years after his death.

Elizabeth stabilized England during a period of political and religious turmoil and positioned England to become the leading Protestant world power for the next three centuries.

Her rule as a woman did much to promote the advancement of women in society and eventually in civil and political life.

Elizabeth wanted to unite her country, and she used the Church of England as a tool, attempting to make it as inclusive as possible (although Catholicism was still outlawed).

Elizabeth's reign is referred to as the Elizabethan era and a Golden Age for England.