The Spanish Armada

Question 1

What were some of Phillips personal reasons for the armada

Answer 1

He was a strong catholic and wanted to stop the spread of Protestantism
Wanted to ensure that Spain remained the largest and strongest empire in Europe

Question 2

How did the events in the Netherlands affect reasons for the Spanish Armada

Answer 2

Philip wanted to take revenge for Elizabeth’s support of Protestant rebels
Elizabeth had become the protector of Dutch Protestants sending a force of 5000 troops and 1000 cavalry

Question 3

What did the English privateers do

Answer 3

Attacked Spanish treasure ships

Question 4

What did sir Francis drake do in his 3 year crusade

Answer 4

Launched several surprise attacks on Spanish treasure ships and a estimated 200 m of todays money was stolen and was knighted on his return to England

Question 5

What was Phillips plan for the invasion of England

Answer 5

Advance the navy from Lisbon along the coast in the English Channel destroying the English fleet. Anchor the fleet off Calais. A force of 17000 soldiers would arrive from the Netherlands led by the Duke of Parma. The navy would then protect Parma’s soldiers as they crossed the channel and then land in Kent travelling up the Thames to London

Question 6

What did sir Francis drake do to postpone the invasion by a year

Answer 6

Attacked the fleet at Cadiz destroying 37 ships and tonnes of seasoned timber set aside for barrels

Question 7

What made transporting Parma’s army difficult

Answer 7

Would need large barges which would need to be built on the spot which could break if there is bad weather and the Netherlands did not have harbours big enough for big Spanish ships

Question 8

Who did Phillip appoint as the admiral for the armada and what was wrong with him

Answer 8

Duke medina Sidonia and had sea sickness

Question 9

When did the armada set sail

Answer 9

April 1588

Question 10

What happened shortly after the armada set sail

Answer 10

Dreadful storms delaying the invasion

Question 11

What happened at Plymouth

Answer 11

Drake sailed out of Plymouth to pursue the armada and engaged in regular fights but did not break the crescent formation

Question 12

What was the significant of the crescent formation

Answer 12

Made it difficult for the English to attack as the store ships were in the middle and had heavily armed galleons on the outer edge

Question 13

Where did the armada anchor to wait for the Duke of Parma

Answer 13

Calais

Question 14

How long were the Duke of Parma’s forces delayed by

Answer 14

A week

Question 15

What did lord Howard decide to take advantage of and attack the army in Calais

Answer 15

Duke of Parma being delayed by a week

Question 16

What did lord Howard do to break up the crescent formation

Answer 16

Filled 8 unmanned ships with gunpowder and loaded cannons and set fire to them and sent them towards the armada

Question 17

When was the battle of grave lines

Answer 17

8th of august 1588

Question 18

What was the battle of gravelines

Answer 18

Lasted 8 hours until England ran out of ammunition

Question 19

How many Spanish ships and sailors were lost at the battle of gravelines

Answer 19

3 Spanish ships and 1000 Spanish sailors

Question 20

How many English ships and sailors were lost at the battle of gravelines

Answer 20

0 ships and 50 sailors

Question 21

What did Elizabeth do after the battle of gravelines and when

Answer 21

Gave a inspiration speech to sailors in tilbury on the 9th of august 1588

Question 22

What happened to the Spanish Armada during the last part of their journey

Answer 22

The winds changed and the armada had to sail through the North Sea and past Scotland to get back to Spain

Question 23

What were the strengths of the armada

Answer 23

130 galleons and supply ships
30,000 men
1900 cannons
123,000 cannon balls
Extensive supply of food and water
17,000 well trained soldiers from the Netherlands

Question 24

Weaknesses of the armada

Answer 24

England positioned a line of warning beacons along the coast
England raised an army of 20,000 men
England’s navy was strong commanded by lord Howard
England had 54 battleships which were faster and fitted with longer range cannons

Question 25

Why did the armada fail

Answer 25

Spanish cannons were ineffective as many exploded when fired
Spanish commander Duke of medina sidonia was not a good captain at sea
England used fire ships to break up the formation
The weather blew the armada up to Scotland and many ship hit the coast and they didn’t have enough food for this kind of a voyage