Peasant Revolt DBQ

The peasant revolts in late 1524 were constructed by peasants, craftsmen, and poor soldiers. Although the cause of these peasant revolts were constant, there are several responses from the German states. Some German’s saw the attacks as too intense, others such as nobles viewed the revolts as devious, and others including the pastors and people with religious beliefs related the revolts to god’s will. The documents mostly overlooking the ruthlessness of the attacks came from Martin Luther and the Pastor. These documents depict a message that the revolts were extensive. Their responses to the revolts were both the same, almost like they were reflecting on the occurrences of the revolts as a summary rather than an opinion. The townsfolk were the peasant supporters, opening the gates and towers to the peasants to let them in. Being a rebel himself, Martin Luther, theologian, was able to relate and give a different point of view on the peasant revolts. Luther has more of a negative outlook towards the peasants, as he states that “(the peasants) violently took matters into their own hands.” The map given shows that most conflict was in the middle of Germany, ranging down towards Republic of Venice and South Germany. One other document that conveyed the message of the overall attack responses was the Decree of the Imperial Diet. It talked about the recap of the year, the “unchristian rebellion by subjects through southern Germany”, and other larger than life depictions of the revolts. The three documents written or directed towards the noblemen convey the noblemen response to the revolts. In the document in reply of Memmingen Town Council, we are able to see what the high authorities of the town had to say about the peasant revolts between 1524 and 1526. “The peasants shall pay us a reasonable amount of money.” This shows the cause of the peasant revolts, as there were duties being asked of the lower class, and they were not able to follow up the requests, such as money. Lichtenstein, a noblemen, also reflects on the peasant revolts, saying how nobles joined the peasants because no help or consolation had been sent by the territorial prince. Lichtenstein, however, tells us how it was like to be a nobleman during this time: “I begged that the peasants should not force me to swear an oath of allegiance to them.” Von Henneberg reflects on the response to the revolts, and how the nobles attempted to ignore the revolt attempts.