2.4 The Armada Flashcards

1
Q

When was MQS executed?

A

1587

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

When did Philip II launch the Spanish Armada as a project?

A

October 1585

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What religious reasons were the catalysts for Philip II launching the Armada?

A
  • Philip II wanted to get rid of heresy
  • The papacy had wanted Elizabeth overthrown since being excommunicated in 1570
  • The pope promised to forgive the sins of those taking part in the Armada (and promised to give Philip II a reward if the invasion was successful)
  • Spain and the papacy had backed Catholic plots against Elizabeth I.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What political reasons were the catalysts for Philip II launching the Armada?

A
  • Treaty of Joinville 1584
  • Treaty of Nonsuch 1585
  • England would be a useful addition to Philip II’s empire
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What provocational reasons were the catalysts for Philip II launching the Armada?

A
  • Drake’s actions in the New World
  • Elizabeth I’s support for Dutch rebels since their rebellion began
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What circumstantial reasons were the catalysts for Philip II launching the Armada?

A
  • Spain acquired Portugal in 1580
  • Duke of Parma’s success in the Netherlands since 1579
  • Elizabeth I’s hesitation indicated England’s weaknesses compared with Spain
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How many ships did Philip II have in the Armada?

A

130

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How many guns did Philip II have in the Armada?

A

2,431

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How many men did Philip II have in the Armada?

A

30,000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Who was the commander of the Spanish in the Armada?

A

Duke of Medina-Sidonia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What was the original plan for the Spanish in the Armada?

A

Sail along the English Channel
To the Netherlands
Join the Duke of Parma
Go to Kent
Parma can march to London and depose Elizabeth and impose a new Catholic government.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How many troops were the Spanish planning to take to Kent?

A

27,000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How was long term planning useful for the English in the Armada?

A

John Hawkins (treasurer of the navy) had suggested to Elizabeth years before that English warships needed to be fast and easily manoeuvrable so they could turn their guns to the enemy quicker.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What was the name for the new ships built in the early 1570s that helped turn the English’s guns on the Spanish quickly?

A

Galleons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why were galleons quicker to reload cannons?

A

On Spanish ships the cannons recoiled by quite a long way but the ships had enough space to recoil, and then be reloaded quickly by a team of men and then pushed back into the gun port.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

By 1588, how many galleons did England have?

A

24

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Why was the Spanish Armada not as well prepared as it could have been?

A

Food was stored in barrels made of inferior wood.
This was because of Drake because so much was destroyed in his attack on Cadiz, new barrels had to be made in a rush.
There were also reports of the cannon balls not being of the right quality or being low of supply.

18
Q

Why (and how long) did it take the Duke of Parma so long to load the ships in the Armada when the Duke of Medina-Sidonia sent for him?

A

It took 48hrs
Because the Duke of Parma didn’t control any deep sea ports (which large war ships needed).
So he had to use lots of small ships, taking longer to load them.

19
Q

How long in advance did Medina-Sidonia have to contact the Duke of Parma? Why?

A

A week because communications at sea were unreliable.

20
Q

What exact date was the Armada spotted in the English Channel?

A

29th July 1588.

21
Q

When did the English first open fire on the Spanish having set sail from Plymouth?

A

31st July 1588.

22
Q

How many ships did the English capture when they first opened fire on the Armada?

A

2

23
Q

Despite the English keeping their distance from the Spanish Armada, when was “heavy cannon fire” exchanged by the Isle of Wight?

A

3-4 August

24
Q

Why was the heavy cannon fire exchange off the Isle of Wight significantly useful for the English?

A

It stopped the Spanish’s plans, as Medina Sidonia had wanted to anchor safely to wait for Parma by the Isle of Wight.

25
Q

How many times more cannon balls were the English able to fire during the engagement off the Isle of Wight?

A

6x more, and from further away!

26
Q

Which English commander had realised this advantage, meaning they decide to conserve cannon balls for the decisive battle?

A

The Earl of Nottingham

27
Q

When was the Battle of Gravelines?

A

8th August 1588

28
Q

On the night of the 6th August, what did the English send amongst the Spanish fleet?

A

Fire ships

29
Q

What was the significance of sending fire ships towards the Spanish?

A

The crescent formation was broken and the Spanish ships were scattered.

30
Q

What did the sending of the fire ships start?

A

The Battle of Gravelines

31
Q

Why were the Spanish at a disadvantage in the Battle of Gravelines?

A

Because Parma’s ships hadn’t arrived so they weren’t ready.
English ships were also faster, and more mobile, and their cannons could be loaded more quickly.

32
Q

What did the most damage to the Spanish Armada during the Battle of Gravelines?

A

The gales, they wrecked Spanish ships as they tried to return home throughout the waters on Irish and Scottish coasts.
This killed thousands of men.

33
Q

Why could it be argued that Philip II should take the blame for the defeat?

A

He ignored concerns or criticisms before the Armada because he considered himself to be experienced enough to know what to do.

34
Q

Who did Elizabeth leave her key decisions to during the Armada?

A

Francis Drake
The Earl of Nottingham
Lord Seymour Howard

35
Q

After the Battle of Gravelines, where did Elizabeth I address her troops?

A

Tilbury

36
Q

Why were all Elizabeth’s troops in Tilbury?

A

In case they had to defend England because of a possible invasion from the Duke of Parma.

37
Q

How did the English celebrate the Armada victory?

A

A parade with Elizabeth I in the centre in London, and a special commemorative medal was struck.

38
Q

What was written on the special commemorative medal given to Elizabeth after the Armada?

A

‘God blew, and they were scattered’

39
Q

What does ‘God blew and they were scattered’ mean? Why was it important?

A

It means that God favoured Protestantism which is why they had such luck. Elizabeth was eager to emphasize this.

40
Q

What were the 6 key reasons for the Armada fail?

A
  • English naval tactics
  • Poor communication between Spanish and Dutch fleets
  • Armada was badly supplied
  • Superior English ships
  • Weather
  • Elizabeth listened to expert advice.
41
Q

What impact did the English victory in the Armada have on the Dutch?

A

The Dutch rebels were encouraged to renew their fight against the Spanish.
If the Spanish had won, the English support for the Dutch Protestants would have ended.
So the Anglo-Dutch alliance became really strong.

42
Q

What impact did the English Armada victory have on exploration in England?

A

The English were more confident to trade and explore the open sea more widely.