Elizabeth: causes of the spanish armada

Question 1

name 4 reasons why Spain launched the Spanish Armada in 1588

Answer 1

1. trade and commercial rivalry
2. religious rivalry
3. political rivalry
4. english involvement in the netherlands

Question 2

how did trade and commercial rivalry lead to spain launching the spanish armada?

Answer 2

• trade with the New World was a great way to earn money fast
• some Englishmen saw the Spanish involvement in the New World as an opportunity to attack spanish treasure fleets
• Piracy became a real problem for Spanish traders as the English ships began to attack and rob Spanish treasures. The rewards were so great that Elizabeth pretended she knew nothing
• this angered spain

Question 3

how did religious rivalry lead to Philip launching the Spanish Armada?

Answer 3

• Philip was Catholic and Elizabeth was Protestant, so there was a lot of religious rivalry between them
• Philip II wanted to eradicate ‘heresy’
• The papacy wanted rid of Elizabeth after her excommunication in 1570
• the Pope promised to forgive the sins of those taking part in the Armada (even offering Philip a reward if the invasion was successful)

Question 4

how did political rivalry lead to the launch of the Spanish Armada?

Answer 4

• Philip II was King of the most powerful country in the world. He was also the ruler of the Netherlands, an important trading country, and owned land in South America
• Treasures from the New World made Spain a very wealthy country and one that was able to support their strong army and fleet
• Philip did not like other countries to be a threat to Spain’s power
• England would be a useful addition to Spain’s empire
• Elizabeth signed the Treaty of Nonsuch, 1585, which would protect the Netherlands and would send help to support them against the Spanish

Question 5

describe the events leading up to the English involvement in the Netherlands

Answer 5

• Sir Francis Drake had been provoking Philip II through his attacks on Spanish ships
• the english channel was vitally important for both Elizabeth and Philip, for trade, security, and, in Philip’s case, access to his territories in the Netherlands
• In 1572, Protestants in the Netherlands rebelled against the Spanish rule. The Dutch rebels asked Elizabeth for support when Philip sent a huge Spanish army against them. She sent them money and weapons secretly and allowed them and their ships to shelter in the English ports
• Elizabeth sent the Earl of Leicester and his army to the Netherlands, who later took the title of Governor General, which angered the Spanish even further