What is the Peace of Westphalia and what did it accomplish?

The Treaty of Westphalia is signed, ending the Thirty Years’ War and radically shifting the balance of power in Europe. As a result of the Treaty of Westphalia, the Netherlands gained independence from Spain, Sweden gained control of the Baltic and France was acknowledged as the preeminent Western power.

How did the Peace of Westphalia affect the international system?

The Peace of Westphalia is regarded as a milestone in the development toward tolerance and secularization. This settlement also strengthened the imperial Estates: they could enter into foreign alliances and decide important matters, such as peace and war, along with the emperor.

What did the Peace of Westphalia say about European states and religion?

According to the Peace of Westphalia, all parties would recognize the Peace of Augsburg of 1555; Christians of non-dominant denominations were guaranteed the right to practice their faith; and the exclusive sovereignty of each party over its lands, people, and agents abroad was recognized.

What was the Peace of Westphalia quizlet?

The Peace of Westphalia (1648) ended the Thirty Years’ War and laid the foundations for a system of competing, independent European states. The treaty’s terms mandated that European states recognize each other as sovereign and equal.

What was one result of the Peace of Westphalia quizlet?

Six results of the peace of Westphalia were the weakening of Austria and Spain, the strengthening of France, the independency of German princes from the Holy Roman Emperor, the end to religious wars in Europe, the introduction of the peace summit, and the abandonment of Catholic rule over Europe.

Why is the Peace of Westphalia significance?

The Peace of Westphalia recognized the full territorial sovereignty of the member states of the empire. They were empowered to contract treaties with one another and with foreign powers, provided that the emperor and the empire suffered no prejudice.

What did the Peace of Westphalia do for religion?

With regard to individual religious freedom, the treaty provided that Catholics in a Protestant region and Protestants in a Catholic region were allowed to practice their religion at home, to attend religious services, and to bring up their children according to their religion.

What does the term peace of Westphalia mean?

The term peace of Westphalia refer to the two peace treaties of Osnabruck and Munster signed on May 15 and October 24 of 1648 respectively which ended both the thirty years war in Germany and the eighty years war between Spain and the Netherlands.

What happened at the Peace of Westphalia 1648?

Full Article Peace of Westphalia, European settlements of 1648, which brought to an end the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch and the German phase of the Thirty Years’ War. The peace was negotiated, from 1644, in the Westphalian towns of Münster and Osnabrück. The Spanish-Dutch treaty was signed on January 30, 1648.

Which two countries gained additional territory after the Treaty of Westphalia?

France and Sweden gained additional territory. The 1648 Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years’ War in Europe. The Treaty of Westphalia embraced the notion of sovereignty and almost all small states in central Europe attained sovereignty. The German states (about 250) were recognized as sovereign.

Did the Peace of Westphalia Redefine International Relations?

It is argued that two main treaties that comprise the Peace of Westphalia, make no mention of sovereignty. Some scholars argue that the Peace of Westphalia did not intend to redefine international relations since the treaties had no other purposes than ending the war.