England 3.2 (a) War: Conflict with the Dutch

Question 1

What were the causes of the 2nd Dutch War? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 1

• James believe they could easily win, like the 1st.
• James believed the Dutch were attempting to push England out of the Atlantic trade.
• James lobbied MPs to pressure Charles to declare war?

Question 2

What did James do with New Amsterdam to make Charles start the 2nd Dutch War? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 2

• Attacked and captured in 1664.
• Renamed it New York.
• Charles declared war on the 4th March 1665.

Question 3

What was the English’s new tactic of ‘Line Ahead’? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 3

• Ships lined up end to end, sides facing the enemy.
• They could fire broadsides and inflict maximum damage, and better resist damage.
• Lead to bigger and bigger ‘Ships of the line’.

Question 4

What other tactics did the English use at sea? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 4

• Combustible fireships sailed into enemy lines.
• Smaller cannons designed to destroy top decks and command of a ship.
• Boarding hooks to grapple enemy ships and board.

Question 5

How did the 1665 Battle of Lowestoft go? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 5

• English lost 1 out of 100 ships. The Dutch lost 32 out of 100.
• The line ahead tactic allowed this victory,
• The Dutch fled, adopting the tactic.

Question 6

How did the Earl of Sandwich, James’ replacement, cause English loss in the 2nd Dutch war? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 6

• Sandwich lacked tactical skill and urgency. Targeted Dutch ships even after the plague disrupted his supplies of food and clothes.
• Left to talk to the King about his loss at Bergen, so when Dutch attacked in October 1665, he was unprepared.

Question 7

How did Monck, Sandwich’s replacement, cause English loss in the 2nd Dutch war? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 7

• Monck was reckless and ignored ‘Line Ahead’ tactics, leading to a heavy loss at the ‘Four Days Battle’.
• The Dutch lost 4 ships, the English lost 17.

Question 8

Why did the English win the St James Day battle? What financial issues did they face? How did the King trying to save money cause an issue? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 8

• The English dockyards were able to quickly refit the fleet.
• By the end of 1666 the Navy had no money. The Plague, the war and then the Great Fire caused this.
• Pepys asked the King for £100,000 for the navy. He was rejected.
• The King decided to keep the fleet in dock, leading to the Dutch harassing merchant ships going to London.

Question 9

What were the causes of the 3rd Dutch War? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 9

• Charles’ idea, persuaded by Louis XIV.
• Plans made and agreed in secret, and parliament was not consulted until after the war began.
• Louis XIV wanted territory from the Spanish and United Netherlands.

Question 10

Why did the Frenglish lose the Battle of Solebay in the 3rd Dutch war? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 10

• Communication issues, and an inexperienced French fleet.
• Dutch surprised the English, and the French fled south, stuck in port by bad weather.
• Dutch only fought in familiar shallow waters, escaping quickly and preserving strength.

Question 11

What issues did the English face with James and Rupert as Admirals in the 3rd Dutch war? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 11

• James forced to resign due to the Test Act.
• Short tempered Prince Rupert took over.
• 1672, attacked the French and arrested a general. Blamed French for the loss of the war.

Question 12

How did a lack of parliament’s support and anti catholic feeling cause a failure in the 3rd Dutch war? (RE 3.2a)

Answer 12

• James refused to take the Test Act oath.
• Prince Rupert reported the English took the brunt of the fighting.
• Dutch spread anti-Catholic propaganda in England.
• The French were converting captured Protestant churches to Catholic ones.