Essay on the Münster Rebellion & Anabaptist Commune of 1534 -1535

Assignment:  Write an analytical, historical essay of 6 to 8 paragraphs on the series of religious, political and social events that transpired in the German city of Münster during the mid 1530s.

This must be turned in during class on the designated day, in hard copy (paper) format.  E-mail versions will only be accepted from students taking the class off the Beaufort campus.  Late papers accrue a penalty of 10% reduction per calendar day.

Please use 12 point font in a readable typeface and double space your paper.  Provide a title.

Please cite your sources according to this website: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html

Use at least four of the sources I provide.  You may also supplement these with other sources you find.  Insure those are academically legitimate (and check with me if you are unsure).

Be very careful about plagiarism.  Even when paraphrasing, you must cite your source.  Carefully read over our Writing Center’s page on plagiarism at: http://beaufortccc.libguides.com/content.php?pid=438919&sid=3620250

Also, consult their guides on active/passive voice and many other elements of the writing process.  The home URL for Beaufort’s Writing Center is: http://beaufortccc.libguides.com/content.php?pid=240515&sid=1985000

Above all, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with our wonderful and helpful Writing Center!!

Your paper should be 6 to 8 paragraphs in length, making certain that each paragraph is substantive and informative.  In a paper this brief, on such substantial topics, there is no time for filler.  Please avoid clichés and slang; they make a paper look weak and trite.  Do not use contractions and be very careful about punctuation, grammar, syntax and spelling.  They do count off, and when I have to spend a great deal of time editing your paper rather than thinking about your ideas, presentation and argument, it hurts the grade considerably.

Suggested Organization/Structure (you might have fewer paragraphs):

Paragraph 1 — Introduction.  Include a clear, specific and fairly detailed thesis about the events and why as well as how they happened.  State your main points or themes, clarify any terms or relevant issues and set up the rest.  Do not be vague or overly general here.  Go ahead and state your essential case and outline what you are going to say more fully in the body.

Paragraphs 2 & 3 — Explain and discuss the roots, origins, background and context of the Münster Rebellion.  What did it grow out of and develop from?  What larger religious movement and what socio-political events?  WHY?  HOW?  How were these connected?  To what institutions and conditions did the Anabaptist Movement and the Münster Rebellion react? How was the Rebellion an effort to return to something perceived as important or long lost in Christianity?  What were the rebels trying to create, enshrine, or bring about?  What influenced all this? Who were the founder(s) and originators?  What was their purpose?  How and why did people support the movement and rebellion? What need or purpose did they originally fulfill?

Paragraph 4 & 5 — Detail and explain what happened specifically in the Münster Rebellion and Commune.  What religious views and behavior, socio-economic reorganization and political changes took place? What individuals figured prominently and how?  What ideas animated these events?

Paragraphs 6 & 7 (the rest except for the conclusion) — In this section, analyze and explain the reasons for, as well as implications and meaning of, the Rebellion.  WHY and HOW did such a radical transformation of religion, society, economics and political organization occur?  What group(s) of people found appeal and meaning in this movement?  WHY…it is very important that you explain this in depth. What purposes were served, what needs were fulfilled, and what goals were met?  These could be spiritual, social, psychological, economic, political, personal or otherwise.  Use your imagination to some extent, putting yourself in the place of these people and their world.

What vision, themes and concepts, ideas or ideals, practices or rituals, hopes and aspirations, sacredness, catharsis or release did this movement offer?  Why did people embrace it, support it and define themselves in terms of it?  Think about and be attentive to ways religious belief was used to re-organize the world–albeit only temporarily–and provide a means for people to realize hopes and dreams, visions of justice and order, righteousness and Godliness.

Concluding paragraph — Sum up your argument and clearly reaffirm your thesis and main points. Here again, do not be vague. Use this opportunity to pull everything together, succinctly explain and emphasize your principal themes, then draw a conclusion that affirms your thesis.

Sources Follow:

​Internet Sources on Münster Rebellion 1534 -1535
The Anabaptist Commune of Münster 1534 -1535
http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=anabaptist_commune_munster

The Muenster Rebellion
http://european-heritage.org/germany/m%C3%BCnster/rebellion/m%C3%BCnster-rebellion

The Modern Historian Blogspot

http://modernhistorian.blogspot.com/2009/06/on-this-day-in-history-munster.html

Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO)
http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/M850.html

“Charisma and History: The Case of Münster, Westphalia, 1534-1535”
http://www.essaysinhistory.com/articles/2012/91
GAMEO on the Peasants’ War

http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/contents/P44.html

Epic World History

http://epicworldhistory.blogspot.com/2012/05/munster-commune.html

Executed Today.com (Yep, that’s a real site!)

http://www.executedtoday.com/2012/01/22/1536-the-munster-rebellion-leaders/ GAMEO on Jan van Leyden, aka John of Leyden

http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/beukelszoon_jan_1509_1536

THE ANABAPTISTS — Reformation Men and Theology
http://thirdmill.org/newfiles/jac_arnold/CH.Arnold.RMT.10.html
K. Lyon — Münster Rebellion Essay — World Civilizations 2​Page 3
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Category: Essays