E! - Spain Problems Flashcards
1
Q
The Dutch Revolt (1566-68)
A
- Netherlands (the Dutch people) belonged to Spain and their King Phillip II
- Phillip had banned English cloth in the Netherlands
- Elizabeth retaliated and ceased trading altogether with the Netherlands
- Dutch people were becoming unhappy at being “owned” by Spain
- Phillip decided to reorganise the Dutch government making sure the Dutch were loyal to the Catholic faith. Those who resisted were tortured or burned alive ( this event is known as the Spanish Inquisition)
- Dutch Catholics and Protestants united in anger and revolted (Dutch revolt)
- The rebels were crushed by the Spanish Duke of Alba’s forces
- Elizabeth would not support the Dutch rebels from fear it could lead to the stronger Spain declaring war on England
- She did however shelter some Dutch rebels in England (known as the Sea Beggars) knowing they would go onto attack Spanish ships
- A Spanish ship attempting to hide from the Dutch sea beggars took refuge in England. It had golf coming from Genoa in Italy meant Spain. Elizabeth stole it. The event was known as the Genoese Loan and angered the Spanish
2
Q
The New World and Francis Drake
A
- England finding it difficult to trade with Europe as the main trade route was through Spain controlled Netherlands
- The New World (America) offered new resources but Spain controlled it.
- Elizabeth used a ship trader Francis Drake (really a pirate) to help her steal resources like Gold from the Spanish ships in the New World.
- Elizabeth would not openly thank Drake at first. She did not want it to be known she was using him as King Phillip of Spain was furious at his piracy
- On one journey (1577-80) to raid Spanish colonies in the New World Drake became the first English man to circumnavigate the globe.
-When Drake returned to England he also brought back £400,000 in Spanish treasure and claimed a region in California for Elizabeth calling it New Albion - Elizabeth now publicly knighted Drake. Spain now knew Elizabeth used Drake to disrupt Spain’s trade routes.
- Drake’s knighthood showed Elizabeth was prepared to now confront Spain.
3
Q
Indirect help to Netherlands (1570s - 1584)
A
- Elizabeth was under pressure to help the Dutch but that could mean war with Spain so Elizabeth took indirect action
1. promised to marry the heir to the French throne the Duke of Alencon if he used French troops to fight the Spanish in the Netherlands
2. She got Drake (pirates) to continue attacking Spanish colonies and ships - Due to Drake stealing their golf the Spanish troops in the Netherlands went unpaid. They completely sacked (looted) the Dutch town of Antwerp as they were after money. This was known as the Spanish Fury.
The Spanish Fury united Dutch Catholics and Protestants who made made a treaty called the Pacification of Ghent. This demanded the Spanish troops leave - Elizabeth sent a loan of £100,000 to the Dutch rebels to help them fight
- In 1577 Phillip II’s brother Don Juan arrived to sign the Pacification of Ghent. It appeared Spain had lost in the Netherlands
4
Q
Spain regains the Netherlands
A
-Phillip II sent a new army later in 1577 to retake the Netherlands
- Avoiding direct action Elizabeth hired a mercenary (soldier who fights for money) to raise volunteers to help the Dutch fight the Spanish.
- Plan backfired as the mercenary army destroyed Catholic churches and persuaded Dutch Catholics to make peace with Spain
- Elizabeth now left it to the French Duke of Alencon to fight the Spanish
- At the end of 1584 the French King signed the Treaty of Joinville. This meant that France had agreed to fight Protestantism. Effectively France and Spain were now allies against Protestantism. Elizabeth now had nothing to lose. She decided to take direct action.
5
Q
Direct action in Netherlands 1585-88
A
- In 1585nElizabeth signed the Treaty of Nonsuch with the Dutch Protestants (officially will help them). England and Spain were now at war
- She sent 7400 troops the Netherlands led by her “favourite” Robert Dudley
- Francis Drake attacked Spain’s new money and so a furious Phillip told the Pope he was now going to invade England
- England’s campaign did not go well as Elizabeth did not send enough money or men and so were losing
- England were betrayed by one of their English army captains who switched sides to the Spanish along with another Englishman Sir William Stanley who handed over control of some of the forts and a town England had controlled
- Many Dutch protestants lost faith in England after this and Dudley was twice recalled to England. The final time he returned signalled England’s defeat in the Netherlands
6
Q
Why did Phillip II send the Armada?
A
- Religion: Elizabeth was a heretic and the Pope wanted her removed
- Provocation: Drake’s actions and the Netherland’s angered Phillip
- Politics: After the Treaty of Joinsville France would not stop Spain
- Circumstance: Spain’s had a large army and navy and Phillip thought England was weak after their failure in the Netherlands
7
Q
What was Phillip II’s plan? (The Spanish Armada)
A
- 130 ships to attack
- 30,000 men would go
- Duke of Medina-Sidonia would sail from Spain to the Netherlands and would join forces with Duke of Parma who was waiting in the Netherlands
- Together they would land in Kent and march to London
- Elizabeth would be removed and a new Catholic government would be set up
8
Q
Spanish Armada defeated (Drake)
A
- As Phillip prepares his armada to attack, Drake attacked first as they were docked in Cadiz harbour. Drake destryoed 30 ships and Spanish supplies in an event known as the “Singeing of the King of Spain’s beard”
- Drake attacked Spanish New World treasure ships meaning Spain had to stop preparing the Armada’s attack by a year giving England more time to prepare
9
Q
Spanish Armada defeated (English ships)
A
- England built new ships known as Galleons that were faster and more manoeuvrable than the Spanish ships
- There was more room around the cannons to allow the English sailors to reload the cannons much quicker than the Spanish (they could fire more)
10
Q
Spanish Armada defeated (Spanish supplies)
A
- Spanish food supplies were running low meaning the men were in poor health
- They were short on cannonballs
11
Q
Spanish Armada defeated (planning and communication issues)
A
- Spain didn’t control any deep water ports in the Netherlands so smaller boats were needed to load cargo onto the bigger ones and that took 2 days
- The Spanish ships leaving Spain sent a message they were starting the attack on their other fleet. It took a week to arrive. When the message arrived the Spanish fleet were already off the coast of England. It would be 48 hours before the other fleet was ready. By then it would be too late
12
Q
Spanish Armada defeated (English tactics)
A
- English ships came up behind the Armada and would fire then move out of range to be hit back. This English ships chased the Armada down the Channel
- Battle of Gravelines: England sent fireships in amongst the Armada causing chaos and scattering them. With quicker ships that could fire more often the Spanish panicked and fled
13
Q
Spanish Armada defeated (the weather)
A
- As the Armada fled round Scotland towards Ireland they were hit by bad weather and many ships were sunk ending any hope of re-attacking
14
Q
Spanish Armada defeated (Phillip II)
A
- Phillip II ignored the suggestions of his military commanders who did not like his plan whereas Elizabeth left the key decisions to Drake and her commanders
15
Q
Consequences of England’s Victory (Spanish Armada)
A
- Elizabeth claimed God favoured Protestants as the weather had helped them
- England’s victory encouraged the Dutch rebels to renew their fight against the Spanish. A strong English-Dutch alliance grew
- England had shown they had a strong navy
