Correct Answer: the act of supremacy
the answer to the question of what resulted in england becoming a protestant country is the act of supremacy, passed in 1534. this act was a crucial piece of legislation that marked a significant turning point in english religious history. prior to this, england was predominantly a catholic country under the spiritual leadership of the pope in rome. however, the political and personal desires of king henry viii prompted a dramatic shift in this religious alignment.
king henry viii's desire to divorce his first wife, catherine of aragon, and marry anne boleyn was a key factor leading to the reformation in england. the pope's refusal to annul his marriage led henry to reject the authority of the pope and the roman catholic church. in response, henry viii and his parliament enacted the act of supremacy in 1534. this act declared that the king was "the only supreme head on earth of the church of england." this declaration effectively established a state church that was separate from roman catholicism, with the monarch at its head.
by positioning himself as the head of the church of england, henry viii could control religious doctrine and practices as well as church appointments. this move not only met his immediate personal needs but also led to significant religious, social, and political changes across england. the establishment of the church of england laid the groundwork for the spread of protestantism throughout the country. while the religious transition was not immediate and faced significant resistance, over time, protestant theology and practices increasingly took hold, shaping the future of the nation.
other events listed, such as the spanish inquisition, the war of 1812, and the treaty of versailles, were significant in their respective contexts but did not play a role in england's transformation into a protestant country. the spanish inquisition was primarily concerned with maintaining catholic orthodoxy in the spanish territories. the war of 1812 involved the united states and britain in a conflict primarily about maritime rights and territorial expansion. lastly, the treaty of versailles in 1919 ended world war i and primarily dealt with the terms of peace and the reorganization of boundaries in europe. none of these events influenced the religious orientation of england in the way the act of supremacy did.
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