The Armada Flashcards
Explain how Religion Caused the Spanish Armada
-Philip II wanted to get rid of heresy.
-The papacy had wanted Elizabeth I overthrown since excommunicating her in 1570.
-The Pope promised to forgive the sins of those taking part in the Armada (and offered Philip II a reward if the invasion was successful).
-Spain and the papacy had backed Catholic plots against Elizabeth I.
Explain how Provocation Caused the Spanish Armada
-Drake’s actions in the New World.
-Elizabeth I’s support for Dutch rebels since their rebellion began.
Explain how Politics Caused the Spanish Armada
-Treaty of Joinville, 1584.
-Treaty of Nonsuch, 1585.
-England would be a useful addition to Philip II’s empire.
Explain how Circumstances Caused the Spanish Armada
-Spain acquired Portugal in 1580.
-Duke of Parma’s success in the Netherlands since 1579.
-Elizabeth I’s hesitation indicated England’s weaknesses compared with Spain.
Describe Philip II’s Strategy for the Spanish Armada
-With 130 ships, 2,432 guns and around 30,000 men, Philip II’s Armada was the largest fleet Europe had ever seen.
-Under the command of the Duke of Medina-Sidonia, it was ordered to sail along the English Channel to the Netherlands. There it would join up with the Duke of Parma.
-Together, they would transport 27,000 troops to Kent and then Parma would march on London, depose Elizabeth and impose a new, Catholic government in England.
Explain how English Ship Design Led to the Defeat of the Armada
-New ships called galleons were built from the 1570s. They were designed to be faster and easier to manoeuvre.
-Cannons were mounted on a smaller gun carriage than on Spanish ships.
-The decks on English ships had enough space for a cannon to recoil, be quickly reloaded and pushed back through the gun port.
-This meant that English ships could fire more cannon balls at the Spanish ships with more speed.
-However, by 1588, England only had 24 galleons so they alone could not defeat the Armada.
Explain how Spanish Supplies Led to the Defeat of the Armada
-Provisions were stored in barrels of inferior wood. This was because Drake’s raid on Cadiz had destroyed so many barrels that new ones had to be made quickly.
-By the time the English engaged, the Spanish had already been at sea for over ten weeks. When the English boarded captured ships, they found food supplies already rotting.
-Documents written by Medina-Sidonia also indicate that the Armada was low on supplies of the necessary cannon balls. Evidence found also shows they were poor quality.
Explain how Planning and Communication Issues Led to the Defeat of the Armada
-The Duke of Parma did not control any deep sea ports (which large war ships needed) in the Netherlands. Instead, he had to use lots of small ships.
-This meant it would take 48 hours to load, man and set sail once word came from Medina-Sidonia to join his fleet.
-Communications between Medina-Sidonia and Parma had to go by sea and were therefore unreliable.
It took a week for word to reach Parma that Medina-Sidonia was in the Channel. By this time, Medina-Sidonia was off Calais waiting to engage the English.
-Although his message got through to Parma eventually, it was too late. His fleet would not be ready to set sail for another 48 hours and the English were ready to attack.
Explain how English Naval Tactics Led to the Defeat of the Armada
-After spotting the Armada, the English fleet chased it down the Channel, but kept at a safe distance. They opened fire and captured two Spanish ships.
-Near the Isle of Wight, the English fired as many as six times more cannon balls than the Spanish and from further away.
-Realising this, English commanders decided to conserve cannon balls for a more decisive battle.
-On the night of 6 August, the English sent fireships amongst the Spanish fleet. Although this did little actual damage, it created havoc by scattering the Armada.
-When it regrouped on 8 August, the English engaged the Armada. Facing faster, more mobile English ships with cannons that were easier to load, the Armada was defeated.
Explain how the Weather Led to the Defeat of the Armada
-After defeat at the Battle of Gravelines on 8 August, the Armada was scattered by the winds.
-In fact, most of the destruction was done by the gales that wrecked Spanish ships as they tried to return home through the treacherous waters off the Scottish and Irish coasts.
-Thousands were killed.
Describe Philip II’s Role in the Defeat of the Armada
-Although Philip II had consulted his military commanders before the Armada sailed, he seems to have ignored their suggestions, their criticisms and their concerns.
-On the other hand, Elizabeth I left the key decisions to her commanders: Francis Drake, the Earl of Nottingham and Lord Seymour.
Describe the Consequences of the Spanish Armada
-Victory over the Armada gave Elizabeth a great propaganda victory. Elizabeth was eager to emphasise that God seemed to favour Protestantism.
-England now had a sense of pride after defeating a larger power. It also encouraged the Dutch rebels to continue fighting. The Anglo-Dutch alliance became even stronger.
-The defeat of the Armada showed the strength of the English navy. After 1588, it also gave England the confidence to trade and explore more widely.
-The defeat cost Spain dearly, both financially and in terms of its power. However, Philip II’s belief in Catholicism as the true religion was unshaken.
