ELIZABETH I FOREIGN POLICY

Question 1

WHY was Spain the largest threat in the 1560s (compared to other countries)?

Answer 1

• Scotland was Protestant, and therefore was religiously allied with England
• France was in a civil war over religion.

Question 2

Since WHEN had the Netherlands been under Spanish control?

Answer 2

Since 1555, when Charles V gave it to Philip II of Spain.

Question 3

WHEN was the first trade embargo between England and the Netherlands under Elizabeth?

Answer 3

1563

Question 4

WHY was there a trade embargo between England and the Netherlands in 1563?

Answer 4

Philip II banned English imports into the Netherlands as revenge for Elizabeth ignoring English piracy and English merchants spreading Protestantism.

Question 5

HOW successful were the 1563 trade embargos between England and Spain?

Answer 5

Both countries backed down in 1564 and trade resumed

Question 6

WHEN was the outbreak of the Revolt of the Netherlands?

Answer 6

1566

Question 7

WHO did the Spanish initially send to deal with the Dutch revolt?

Answer 7

The Duke of Alba

Question 8

WHY did the trading activity of John Hawkins deteriorate Anglo-Spanish relations?

Answer 8

He was trying to break the monopoly of trade that Spain had in the Caribbean. The Spanish government viewed him as a pirate and attacked his fleet in 1568.

Question 9

WHEN was Elizabeth’s second trade embargo against the Netherlands (and Spain)?

Answer 9

1568

Question 10

WHAT were the causes of the 1568 trade embargo against the Netherlands (and Spain)?

Answer 10

• Firstly, Elizabeth had harrased the Spanish, seizing bullion from their ships.
• Alba retaliated by seizing English ships and property in all Dutch ports
• Elizabeth responded with a trade embargo against the Netherlands and Spain

Question 11

HOW severe was the 1568 trade embargo against the Netherlands and Spain?

Answer 11

More serious. Trade wasn’t fully restored for 5 years.

Question 12

WHEN was Elizabeth excommunicated by the Pope?

Answer 12

1570

Question 13

HOW were Spain involved in the Ridolfi Plot?

Answer 13

The Spanish military supported the plot and Philip and De Spes (Spanish ambassador) were implicated

Question 14

WHEN did full-scale revolt in the Netherlands begin?

Answer 14

1572 (war intensified)

Question 15

WHY was Elizabeth accused by Spain of encouraging Dutch rebels in 1572?

Answer 15

Elizabeth had kicked Dutch pirates out of England who returned to the Netherlands and stirred up the revolt against Spanish rule even further.

Question 16

WHEN was the Pacification of Ghent?

Answer 16

1576

Question 17

WHAT was the Pacification of Ghent?

Answer 17

Alliance between all Dutch provinces, calling for the expulsion of all foreign (Spanish) troops and restoration of the provinces’ autonomy.

Question 18

HOW did the Pacification of Ghent fail?

Answer 18

Due to disagreements, the Netherlands split into two:
* The Union of Utrecht (largely northern and Protestant)
* The Union of Arras (largely southern and Catholic)

Question 19

WHICH parts of the Netherlands was Spain able to take back control of after the Pacification of Ghent?

Answer 19

Spain made peace with the Union of Arras (south) and tried to regain the north through force.

Question 20

WHY was the failure of the Pacification of Ghent bad for Anglo-Spanish relations?

Answer 20

England had aided the rebels, making them at odds with Spain. Because the rebels had failed, Spain was gaining more power which increased the danger of a possible Spanish invasion.

Question 21

WHEN did Philip II of Spain annex Portugal?

Answer 21

1580

Question 22

WHY was Philip II of Spain’s annexation of Portugal a danger to England?

Answer 22

• Spain gained power to the larger territory
• Elizabeth sided with Philip’s enemy, the Portuguese pretender, Don Antonio, instead of supporting him again.

Question 23

WHEN was the Treaty of Joinville?

Answer 23

1584

Question 24

WHAT was the Treaty of Joinville?

Answer 24

Alliance between Philip II of Spain and the Catholic League in France. England no longer had support from France and Spain had no reason not to support Mary Queen of Scots as the woman who could replace Elizabeth.

Question 25

WHEN was the Treaty of Nonsuch?

Answer 25

1585

Question 26

WHAT was the Treaty of Nonsuch?

Answer 26

Treaty between England and Dutch rebels in 1585, which failed due to disagreements. Philip of Spain realised he could exploit these divisions between England and the Netherlands

Question 27

WHEN was the unofficial start of the Anglo-Spanish war?

Answer 27

1585 (after the Treaty of Nonsuch).

Question 28

WHAT were England’s naval successes against the Spanish Armada 1587-88?

Answer 28

• English ships were smaller and more manoeuvrable
• The English set some of their ships on fire to cause panic
• English heavy guns did terrible damage at close range and killed many

Question 29

WHY could some call England’s policy towards the Spanish Armada in 1587-88 as neither a success nor a failure?

Answer 29

• Some have argued that the battle was ‘indecisive’
• Conflict continued for another 16 years
• The final blow to the Spanish Armada came from storms, rather than English tactics.

Question 30

WHERE was the Anglo-Spanish war (1588-1603) fought?

Answer 30

• In the sea off Western Europe
• In the Caribbean
• On land in France, the Netherlands, and Ireland

Question 31

WHAT did different contemporaries view the purpose of the Anglo-Spanish war (1588-1603) as?

Answer 31

• Elizabeth sought national security
• Others (e.g. the court, the army and Cecil to some extent) saw it as a war of national and RELIGIOUS survival against a Catholic conspiracy

Question 32

HOW did different contemporaries believe the Anglo-Spanish war (1588-1603) should be fought?

Answer 32

• Some were more ‘minimalist,’ focusing mainly on the Netherlands
• Others, favoured a more expansive naval campaign (e.g. John Hawkins)

Question 33

WHEN did England attack Cadiz during the Anglo-Spanish war (1588-1603)?

Answer 33

1595

Question 34

HOW successful were the attacks on Cadiz in 1595?

Answer 34

• They were spectacular victories, and led to English occupation of Cadiz
• It humiliated Philip II and affected Spanish trade
• However, there was no strategic follow-up and soon after both Drake and Hawkins died

Question 35

WHEN was there another potential Spanish invasion during the Anglo-Spanish war (1588-1603)?

Answer 35

1596

Question 36

WHY did the 1596 attempted Spanish invasion fail?

Answer 36

Storms defeated the Spanish fleet

Question 37

HOW MUCH of a threat was Spain during the rebellion in Ireland?

Answer 37

• The English took the threat seriously, sending a fleet (led by Essex) as opposition, but it fled
• Nevertheless, the Spanish fleet was unable to land due to wind