EUROPEAN HISTORY
SECTION II
Total Time – 1 hour and 40 minutes
Question 1 (Document-Based Question)
Suggested reading and writing time: 1 hour
It is suggested that you spend 15 minutes reading the documents and 45 minutes writing your response.
Note: You may begin writing your response before the reading period is over.
Directions: Question 1 is based on the accompanying documents. The documents have been edited for
the purpose of this exercise.
In your response you should do the following:
• Respond to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis or claim that establishes a line of
reasoning.
• Describe a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.
• Support an argument in response to the prompt using at least six documents.
• Use at least one additional piece of specific historical evidence (beyond that found in the
documents) relevant to an argument about the prompt.
• For at least three documents, explain how or why the document’s point of view, purpose,
historical situation, and/or audience is relevant to an argument.
• Use evidence to corroborate, qualify, or modify an argument that addresses the prompt.
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1. Evaluate whether the German Peasants’ War was fought primarily for religious or primarily for
economic reasons
Document 1
Source: Leonhard von Eck, Chancellor of Bavaria, report to Duke Ludwig of Bavaria,
February 15, 1525.
This rebellion has been undertaken to repress the princes and the nobility and has its ultimate source
in Lutheran teaching, for the peasants relate the majority of their demands to the Word of God, the
Gospel, and brotherly love. The peasants are blinded, led astray, and made witless. If these peasants
promised today that they would give their lords no further trouble, they could change their minds
within an hour.
Document 2
Source: Sebastian Lotzer, craftsperson and lay preacher, and Christoph Schappeler, preacher from
Memmingen, Twelve Articles of the Swabian Peasants, March 1, 1525.
We will not allow ourselves hereafter to be oppressed by our lords but will let them demand only
what is just and proper according to the agreement between lords and peasants. Lords should no
longer try to force more services or other dues from peasants without compensation. Peasants
should, however, help lords when it is necessary and at proper times when it does not disadvantage
the peasant and for a suitable compensation.
Document 3
Source: Peasant Parliament of Swabia to the Memmingen Town Council, from Articles of the
Peasants of Memmingen, March 3, 1525.
Hitherto we have been held as your poor serfs, which is pitiable, given that Christ has purchased
and redeemed us with His precious blood, just as He has the Emperor. But it is not our intention to
reject all authority. We will be obedient to all authority appointed by God in all fair and reasonable
matters, and we do not doubt that as Christian lords you will release us from serfdom.
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Document 4
Source: Reply of the Memmingen Town Council to the Articles of the Peasants of Memmingen,
March 15, 1525.
On the article concerning serfdom: we, your lords, purchased this right for a considerable sum of
money, and the serfdom of a Christian is no hindrance to the salvation of his soul. However, so that
you, the subjects, may see and recognize the council’s good will, the council will release and
absolve its subjects from such serfdom that the council controls. In return, the peasants shall pay us
a reasonable amount of money.
Document 5
Source: Pastor Johann Herolt, report of the events at Weinsberg, April 16, 1525.
The peasants arrived so unexpectedly that the count and his subordinates could not return to the
castle and had to remain in town with the citizens. The peasants scaled the castle walls, captured the
countess and her children, plundered the castle, and then appeared before the town. The townsfolk
were peasant supporters. They opened the gates and towers to the peasants and let them in.
Then Lucifer and all his angels were let loose; for they raged and stormed no differently than if they
were mad and possessed by every devil. First they seized the count, then the nobility and the
cavalry, and some were stabbed as they resisted… They then led lord Ludwig, Count of
Helfenstein... to a field in the direction of Heilbronn and with him thirteen nobles… There they
made a circle and made the well-born and the noble run the gauntlet with their servants, twenty-four
persons in all. The count offered to give them a barrel of money if they would let him live, but there
was no way out but to die. When the count saw that, he stood stock still until they stabbed him…
Thus, all these were driven through the lances contrary to all the rules of war and afterwards
dragged out naked and let lie there. May Almighty God have mercy on them and us!
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Document 6
Source: Martin Luther, theologian, Against the Murdering, Thieving Hordes of Peasants,
Wittenberg, May 1525.
The peasants forgot their place, violently took matters into their own hands, and are robbing and
raging like mad dogs. It is clear that the assertions they made in their Twelve Articles were nothing
but lies presented under the name of the Gospel. This is particularly the work of that devil, Thomas
Müntzer, who rules at Mühlhausen. The peasants are not content with belonging to the devil
themselves; they force and compel many good people to join their devilish league. Anyone who
consorts with them goes to the devil with them and is guilty of all the evil deeds that they commit.
Document 7
Source: Lorenz Fries, chief advisor to the Catholic Archbishop of Würzburg, secret report regarding
a peasant assembly, June 1, 1525.
The peasants occupying Würzburg were heard to say publicly that, since they were supposed to be
brothers with one another, they believed the rich should share with the poor, especially those rich
persons who had acquired their property from trade or had otherwise won it from the poor. The
same was heard from many peasants in the countryside, where many a prosperous man, who had
hitherto observed and taken pleasure in the peasants’ uprising, began to scratch his head and to
reflect on what a troublesome outcome the affair might have.
END OF DOCUMENTS FOR QUESTION 1
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All rights reserved. REPRODUCED FOR INSTRUCTIONAL USE ONLY
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AP EURO DBQ RUBRIC
Name: ____________________
Updated July 2017
DBQ: ____________________
CONTEXTUALIZATION
Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.
The response must relate the topic of the prompt to broader historical events, developments, or
processes that occur before, during, or continue after the time frame of the question. This point is not
awarded for merely a phrase or a reference.
THESIS / CLAIM
Responds to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis/claim
that establishes a line of reasoning.
The thesis must make a claim that responds to the prompt, rather than merely restating or rephrasing
the prompt. The thesis must consist of one or more sentences located in one place, either in the
introduction or the conclusion.
DOCUMENTS, EVIDENCE, & ANALYSIS
DESCRIBES
Doc __
Doc __
SUPPORTS
EXPLAINS
Accurately DESCRIBES the content of
at least THREE documents to address
the topic of the prompt. Quotes are
insufficient to earn this point.
Doc __
SUPPORTS an argument in response
to the prompt using at least SIX
documents. These documents should
Doc __
meet (and exceed) the standard set for the
description point.
Doc __
Doc __
Doc __
For at least THREE documents,
EXPLAINS HOW or WHY the
document’s point of view, purpose,
historical situation, and/or audience
is relevant to an argument.
Uses at least one additional piece of specific historical evidence
(beyond that found in the documents) relevant to an argument about the prompt.
The response must describe the evidence and must use more than a phrase or reference.
This additional piece of evidence must be different from the evidence used to earn the
point for contextualization.
Demonstrates a complex understanding of the historical development that
is the focus of the prompt, using evidence to corroborate, qualify, or
modify an argument that addresses the question.
The response must demonstrate a complex understanding, which must be part of the argument and not
merely a phrase or reference. This could include:
• Explaining nuance by analyzing multiple variables
• Explaining both similarity and difference, both continuity and change, or
multiple causes, or both causes and effects
POINTS:
• Explaining relevant and insightful connections within and across periods
• Confirming the validity of an argument by corroborating multiple perspectives across themes
• Qualifying or modifying an argument by considering diverse or alternative views or evidence
TOTAL
/7
Based on DBQ guidelines released by the College Board July 2017.
For more materials, visit www.tomrichey.net.