World History II Standards of Learning (SOL) Practice Test

The main idea here is the Counter-Reformation. This term captures the Catholic Church’s organized effort to respond to the Protestant Reformation by defending traditional Catholic beliefs and reforming church practices. It wasnished a dual aim: reaffirmation of doctrine, such as the authority of the sacraments and church tradition, and real reforms to address corruption, discipline, and abuses within the clergy and leadership.

A pivotal moment of this response was the Council of Trent, which clarified Catholic teachings on salvation, justification, the sacraments, and the authority of the pope and tradition. The Counter-Reformation also fostered new religious orders and renewed spiritual life to strengthen Catholic life and mission.

Other options miss the bigger picture. The Council of Trent is a major component of the movement, not the overall name for it. Papal Reform is too vague to describe the entire effort, and the Inquisition refers more to enforcing orthodoxy than to the broad reaction and reform that defines the Counter-Reformation.