Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question

What is the significance of the Peace of Westphalia?

This entry maps the significance attributed to the 1648 Peace of Westphalia — from ending the Thirty Years' War and extending religious tolerance to establishing precedents for state sovereignty, diplomacy and the European balance of power.

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The Peace of Westphalia brought about the end of the Thirty Years War

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The Peace of Westphalia created a basis for national self-determination

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The Peace of Westphalia included a return to the principles in the Peace of Augsburg of 1555, in which each prince would have the right to determine the religion of his own state

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The Peace of Westphalia extended that tolerance to allow the minority religion of the territory to practice freely

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The Peace of Westphalia established important political precedents for state sovereignty

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The Peace of Westphalia established important political precedents for inter-state diplomacy

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The Peace of Westphalia established important political precedents for balance of power in Europe