The Peace of Westphalia, concluded in 1648 in Münster (Germany), ended the Thirty Years’ War, which started with an anti-Habsburg revolt in Bohemia in 1618 but became an entanglement of different conflicts concerning the constitution of the Holy Roman Empire, religion, and the state system of Europe. 

What did the Peace of Westphalia accomplish?

As a result of the Treaty of Westphalia, the Netherlands gained independence from Spain, Sweden gained control of the Baltic and France was acknowledged as the preeminent Western power. The power of the Holy Roman Emperor was broken and the German states were again able to determine the religion of their lands.

What is the Peace of Westphalia and its significance?

The Peace of Westphalia, signed in 1648, ended the Thirty and Eighty Years Wars and created the framework for modem international relations. The concepts of state sovereignty, mediation between nations, and diplomacy all find their origins in the text of this treaty written more than three hundred and fifty years ago.

What are the four main points of the Peace of Westphalia?

They were:

  • National self-determination;
  • Precedent for ending wars through diplomatic congresses;
  • Peaceful coexistence among sovereign states as the norm;
  • Maintained by a balance of power among sovereign states and acceptance of principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other sovereign states.



Why did the Peace of Westphalia happen?

Background: Wars in Europe



Two destructive wars were the major triggers behind signing the eventual Peace of Westphalia: the Thirty Years’ War in the Holy Roman Empire and the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch Republic.

What are the main point of Westphalia?

The Peace of Westphalia recognized the full territorial sovereignty of the member states of the empire. They were empowered to contract treaties with one another and with foreign powers, provided that the emperor and the empire suffered no prejudice.

Who did the Peace of Westphalia impact?

The Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years’ War, gave Sweden control of the Baltic, recognized the independence of the Netherlands, gave Alsace and Lorraine to France, and recognized Calvinism in the Holy Roman Empire.

What three principles did the Peace of Westphalia establish?

The Peace of Westphalia established important political precedents for state sovereignty, inter-state diplomacy, and balance of power in Europe.

What does Westphalia mean?

Westphalia in British English



(wɛstˈfeɪlɪə ) noun. a historic region of NW Germany, now mostly in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. German name: Westfalen.

Did the Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years War?

What treaty ended the Thirty Years’ War? The Thirty Years’ War ended with the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, which changed the map of Europe irrevocably. The peace was negotiated, from 1644, in the Westphalian towns of Münster and Osnabrück. The Spanish-Dutch treaty was signed on January 30, 1648.

What ended the Thirty Years War?



Over the course of 1648, the various parties in the conflict signed a series of treaties called the Peace of Westphalia, effectively ending the Thirty Years’ War – although not without significant geopolitical effects for Europe.

Why did the Thirty Years War start?

The primary cause of the Thirty Years’ War was the actions of Emperor Ferdinand II in forcing the protestants into Catholicism. The war ended with the Peace of Westphalia, a treaty that laid boundaries for European countries and recognized subsequent territorial sovereignty throughout Europe.

Who won the Thirty Years War?

There was no winner as the war was concluded in 1648 by the Peace of Westphalia (which also ended the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Netherlands) a document essentially just restating the same terms as the Peace of Augsburg in 1555 regarding religion.

What were six results of the Peace of Westphalia?

Six results of the peace of Westphalia were the weakening of Austria and Spain, the strengthening of France, the independency of German princes from the Holy Roman Emperor, the end to religious wars in Europe, the introduction of the peace summit, and the abandonment of Catholic rule over Europe.

What are two major significant impacts of the Treaty of Westphalia?



The Treaty of Westphalia is regarded as a key step in the development of tolerance and secularization across the world. It also strengthened nations since they could now enter into foreign alliances and decide important matters, such as peace and war.

What three principles did the Peace of Westphalia establish?

The Peace of Westphalia established important political precedents for state sovereignty, inter-state diplomacy, and balance of power in Europe.

What did the Peace of Westphalia do quizlet?

The Peace of Westphalia (1648) ended the Thirty Years’ War and laid the foundations for a system of competing, independent European states. The treaty’s terms mandated that European states recognize each other as sovereign and equal.

What does Westphalia mean?

Westphalia in British English



(wɛstˈfeɪlɪə ) noun. a historic region of NW Germany, now mostly in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. German name: Westfalen.