What was the root cause of the Thirty Years' War?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The root cause of the Thirty Years' War was conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. The Protestant Reformation had led to the emergence of Protestant states within the Holy Roman Empire, and tensions heightened as both sides attempted to gain power and influence. The war began as a religious conflict, but soon became a larger political and territorial struggle involving various European powers. Economic dislocation and political upheaval in France may have contributed to the war, but were not the root cause. Lutheran-Catholic tensions are essentially the same thing as conflicts between Catholics and Protestants.

What Was the Root Cause of the Thirty Years' War