The Thirty Year's War, from 1618 to 1648, was fought between the Protestants and the Catholics. It was instigated by Ferdinand of Styria who closed some Protestant churches. The Protestants retaliated by hurling two of his officials out a castle window. This action, known as the "defenestration of the Prague," began the long, bloody war now called the Thirty Year's War. When the war's four phases came to an end, the Protestants gained the upper hand in the peace treaties. Because of the severity of the Thirty Year's War, many political, social, economic and religious consequences came into being.

The Thirty Year's War had many political consequences. First of all, the Peace of Westphalia impacted many changes throughout Europe. The treaty stated that each prince of Germany was sovereign, independent authority of its territory and could make war or peace. Also, because of the Peace of Westphalia, the Hapsburg emperor's...