Elizabeth - Rivalry with Spain / Circumnavigation

Question 1

Why did England and Spain have good relations at the start of Elizabeth’s reign?

Answer 1

Marriage alliances (Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon/ Philip married to Mary) and fought together against France in 1550s.

Question 2

Who controlled the Netherlands?

Answer 2

Spain/ Philip II

Question 3

Why were the Netherlands important to England?

Answer 3

English exports to Europe were vital to the English economy - went through Dutch ports like Antwerp (in the Netherlands).

Question 4

Which port in the Netherlands was vital to England’s exports?

Answer 4

Antwerp.

Question 5

Which countries did Philip II rule over?

Answer 5

Spain, Portugal, parts of Italy and the Netherlands. He also had an empire in North and South America and Asia (Phillippines).

Question 6

Give two reasons why there was political rivalry between England and Spain?

Answer 6

• Spanish ambassadors were involved or linked to the Throckmorton plot.
• Elizabeth refused to marry Philip so causing him considerable embarrasment.
• The situation in the Netherlands is an example of political rivalry.

Question 7

What do you call English sailors who traded illegally with Spainish colonies and attacked Spanish treasure fleets? Name two famous examples of these men.

Answer 7

Privateers. John Hawkins and Francis Drake.

Question 8

What examples are there of commercial rivalry?

Answer 8

• John Hawkins (English privateer) challenged thye Spanish monopoly of the slave trade.
• Hawkins, Drake and other privateers stole from Spanish ships. Key events were Nombre de Dois (1572) and Cacafuego (1579).
• Drake captured £40000 of silver in 1572 and returned with £400000 worth of treasure after his circumnavigation of the globe in 1580.

Question 9

How did Elizabeth help Dutch rebels against the Spanish in 1568?

Answer 9

After the Dutch revolted against the Spanish, Elizabeth sheltered Dutch sea beggars in her ports.

Question 10

What did Elizabethdo in 1568 with the Spanish ships laden with gold that took refuge in English ports?

Answer 10

Seized the gold for herself - ‘Genoese loan’ - arguing that it was money from Italian bankers and not, therefore, Spanish gold.

Question 11

How did Philip react to the seizure of the ‘Genoese Loan’?

Answer 11

Philip banned English trade with the Netherlands. This damaged England’s economy and forced merchants to look for new markets overseas/

Question 12

Who did Elizabeth encourage to help the Dutch against the Spanish in the 1570s?

Answer 12

The French Duke of Alencon.

Question 13

What did the Spanish sign with the Dutch after they went bankrupt in 1576?

Answer 13

The Pacification of Ghent asking the Spanish to leave the Netherlands. The Spanish then ignored this and invaded the Netherlands again.

Question 14

How did Elizabeth increase the help she was giving to the Dutch in 1577?

Answer 14

She sent a mercenary John Casimir to fight the Spanish in the Netherlands which failed.

Question 15

How did Elizabeth support the Dutch rebellion against Spanish rule in 1581?

Answer 15

Offered limited financial help to the rebels but did not want to provoke Philip. She also knighted Drake in 1581 angering Philip.

Question 16

Why was Elizabeth initially reluctant to help the Dutch rebels in the Netherlands against the Spanish?

Answer 16

Reluctant to provoke Philip by getting directly involved (did offer limited financial help though).

Question 17

What was the name of the Dutch rebel who was assassinated in 1584?

Answer 17

William of Orange.

Question 18

What did the French and Spanish sign in 1584 and how did this impact England?

Answer 18

After the Duke of Alencon died, France and Spain signed the treaty of Joinville which meant that England was now isolated. The privy council pushed Elizabeth to send an army to the Netherlands.

Question 19

What was the name of the Treaty Elizabeth signed in 1585 which placed the Netherlands under her protection?

Answer 19

Treaty of Nonsuch.

Question 20

Give two reasons why Elizabeth signed this Treaty.

Answer 20

Religious: ensure freedom of worship for Dutch protestants.
Military: if rebels defeated - Philip could use Nehterlands as base for invasion.
Commericial: key ports for English trade.
Strategic: if Dutch rebels defeated interestes then Spain would control Channel and Atlantic coasts of Europe.

Question 21

How many troops did Elizabeth send to the Netherlands?

Answer 21

In 1585, Elizabeth sent 7000 troops to the Netherlands.

Question 22

Who led the English military expedition to the Netherlands?

Answer 22

Robert Dudley (also known as the Earl of Leister).

Question 23

What title did he accept when he arrived and why did Elizabeth force him to resign his positions as a result?

Answer 23

Governor-General of the Netherlands/ risked provoking Philip as implied Elizabeth had seized control Netherlands.

Question 24

Give two reasons why England was defeated?

Answer 24

Leadership: Dudly was not a talented general and his officers were bitterly divided over strategy.
Resources: English army was small and poorly equipped and funded compared with Spanish.

Question 25

Who was the Spanish general leading the campaign against the Dutch rebels/ English?

Answer 25

Duke of Parma.

Question 26

What role did Dudley play as commander of the English forces?

Answer 26

He was able to slow down the Spanish forces but was ultimately defeated.

Question 27

What did Philip II do after Elizabeth signed the Treaty of Nonsuch?

Answer 27

Prepared invasion of England. He began plans to build an Armada.

Question 28

Which Spanish port did Francis Drake attack in 1587?

Answer 28

Cadiz.

Question 29

Why did Francis Drake attack the port of Cadiz in 1587?

Answer 29

To slow down Spanish preparations for the Armada by destroying or raiding naval supplies.

Question 30

How many ships did Drake destroy?

Answer 30

30 ships.

Question 31

How else did Drake slow down Philip’s preparations fot the Armada?

Answer 31

Drake sailed along coast destroying supplies being sent to Lisbon and seized valuable ship - San Filipe - which allowed Elizabeth to improve English defences with money captured.

Question 32

Give two examples of the impact of the raid on Cadiz.

Answer 32

• Destroyed planks of wood used to make barrels to carry food and water. Had to rely on poorer quality wood which did not preserve food or water well.
• Expensive; strained Spain’s finances.
• Delayed Armada for a year allowing England time to prepare.

Question 33

What was the nickname given to this action?

Answer 33

‘Singeing the King of Spain’s beard’.

Question 34

When did the Armada depart?

Answer 34

May 1588.

Question 35

Who led the Armada?

Answer 35

Duke of Medina Sedonia - little military or naval experience. Also got seasick.

Question 36

Who led the English fleet?

Answer 36

Lord Howard, Sir Francis Drake - experience seamen.

Question 37

Why was the Armada unable to join forces with Spanish troops waiting in the Netherlands?

Answer 37

Poor communication and the troops in the Netherlands were slowed down by Dutch ships blockading them at Ostend. Spanish plans were flawed.

Question 38

What did the English do to cause panic among the Spanish and lead them to cut their anchors?

Answer 38

Sent fireships towards the Spanish fleet while they were anchored at Calais.

Question 39

Why else were English tactics and ships superior to the Spanish?

Answer 39

They had new faster/ narrower galleons that could sail close to the Spanish ships and then move away quickly. The English cannons could also be reloaded more quickly. However, they only had 24 of these new ships.

Question 40

What role did the wind play in the defeat of the Spanish Armada?

Answer 40

The wind changed direction and blew the Armada in to the North sea making it impossible to meet up with Parma. This was called the ‘Protestant Wind’. It also meant the Spanish got stuck in storms and had to sail back via Scotland and Ireland where many ships were shipwrecked.