Which treaty ended the Thirty Years' War and recognized the independence of numerous German states, while granting Calvinism official status?

• A. Peace of Augsburg
• B. Treaty of Westphalia
• C. Edict of Nantes
• D. Treaty of Utrecht

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is how early modern Europe shifted toward a system of independent, legally equal states and broader religious tolerance. The treaty that ended the Thirty Years’ War did just that: it brought a long peace by recognizing the practical sovereignty of many German princes and their territories, effectively acknowledging their independence from centralized imperial control. It also made Calvinism an officially recognized faith in the Holy Roman Empire, alongside Catholicism and Lutheranism.

Before this, the Peace of Augsburg had allowed only Catholicism and Lutheranism and did not grant formal status to Calvinism, leaving ongoing religious and political tension unresolved. The other options address different regions or later conflicts: one is tied to France’s internal religious settlement; another to a later European power balance after a different war. The treaty in question uniquely ended the war, acknowledged the independence of German states, and officially accepted Calvinism, marking a turning point toward the modern idea of state sovereignty and religious pluralism within Europe.