Elizabeth 3 - Spanish Armada

Question 1

What lead to the Spanish Armada?

Answer 1

In the 1580s, an Anglo-Spanish War broke out, leading to the launch of the Spanish Armada in 1588
Causes of the rivalry with Spain

Question 2

What were the causes of rivalry with Spain?

Answer 2

1. Elizabeth had refused to marry Phillp of Spain at the start of her reign
2. English privateers such as Francis Drake stole gold from Spanish treasure ships.
   Elizabeth knighted Drake.
   3.Philips upported Catholic plots against Elizabeth
3. In 1585, Elizabeth agreed to send 7,000 soldiers to
4. the Netherlands to support Protestant rebels fighting
   Philip’s army
5. The execution of Mary Queen of Scots in 1587 angered
   Philip

Question 3

What was the Spanish Armada

Answer 3

Philips invasion fleet of 130 ships
It planned to sail to the Netherlands to pick up 20,000 Spanish soldiers before invading England and reintroducing Catholicism.

Question 4

Why did the Spanish Armada fail reason 1?

Answer 4

Spanish mistakes - The leader ofthe Armada, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, had no experience of sailing and got sea sick
The Spanish army was a week late, leaving the Armada vulnerable to attack

Question 5

Why did the Spanish Armada fail reason 2?

Answer 5

English strengths - used fire ships to break armadas crescent formation
The English ships were smaller and more manoeuvrable

Question 6

Why did the Spanish Armada fail reason 3?

Answer 6

Armada driven north by storm forced to return to Spain via Scotland
Over 40 Spanish ships wrecked
Philip sent 2 more armadas in 1590s but both wrecked in storm.