Rivalry with Spain abroad

Question 1

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

Answer 1

The Marriage Alliance (Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon/ Phillip II married Mary) and fought together against France in the 1550s.

Question 2

Who controlled the Netherlands?

Answer 2

Spain/ Phillip II

Question 3

Why where the Netherlands important to Elizabeth?

Answer 3

English exports to Europe were vital for England’s 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 Phillip 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 (Philippines).

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Spanish ambassadors were linked to the Throckmorton Plot.
Elizabeth refused to marry Phillip which caused him severe embarrassment.
The situation in the Netherlands is an example of this political rivalry.

Question 7

What do you call English sailors that traded illegally with Spanish 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 the Spanish monopoly over the slave trade.
Hawkins, Drake and other privateers stole from Spanish ships. Key events were Nombre de Dios (1572) and Cacafuego (1579).
Drake captured £40,000 of silver in 1572 and returned with £400,000 worth of treasure after circumnavigating 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 Elizabeth do 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 it was money from Italian bankers and not, therefore, Spanish gold.

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Phillip banned English trade with the Netherlands. This damaged the English economy and forced English 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 Gent asked 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 the Dutch in 1577?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Offered limited financial help to the rebels but didn’t want to provoke Phillip II.
She also knighted Drake in 1581 angering Phillip.

Question 16

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

Answer 16

She was reluctant to provoke Philip by getting directly involved (did offer limited financial help).

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 the Treaty of Nonsuch?

Answer 20

Religious- ensure freedom of worship for Dutch Protestants

Military- if the rebels were defeated Philip could use the Netherlands as a base for invasion.

Commercial- key ports for English trade.

Strategy- if Dutch rebels defeated interests, Spain would control the Channel and Atlantic coasts of Europe.

Question 21

How many troops did Elizabeth send to the Netherlands?

Answer 21

In 1585, England sent 7,000 troops to the Netherlands.

Question 22

Who led the English military expedition to the Netherlands?

Answer 22

Robert Dudley (Earl of Leicester)

Question 23

What title did Robert Dudley accept when he arrived in the Netherlands and why did Elizabeth force him to resign his position as a result?

Answer 23

Governer-General of the Netherlands. She forced him to resign because they were at risk of provoking Philip. And seizing control of the Netherlands.

Question 24

Give two reasons why England was defeated in the Netherlands?

Answer 24

Leadership- Dudley was not a talented general and his officers where bitterly divided over strategy.

Resources- English army was small and poorly equipped and funded compared to Spain.

Question 25

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

Answer 25

Duke of Parma

Question 26

What role did Dudley play as the leader 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 Amanda by destroying or raiding naval supplies.

Question 30

How many ships did Drake destroy when attacking the port of Cadiz in 1587?

Answer 30

30 ships

Question 31

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

Answer 31

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

Question 32

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

Answer 32

Destroyed planks of wood that were used to make barrels to carry food and water. Had to rely or 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 the raid of Cadiz?

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

The Duke of Medina Sidonia who had little naval or military experience and also got seasick.

Question 36

Who led the English fleet?

Answer 36

Lord Howard, Sir Francis Drake- experienced sea men.

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 the Spanish to panic and cut their anchors?

Answer 38

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

Question 39

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

Answer 39

They had new fast/narrow 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 Spanish ships into 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.