Why The Armada Failed Flashcards
Why was the Spanish Armada defeated?
English tactics were superior due to their ability to attack from a distance and the use of fire ships.
What shape were the Spanish ships sailing in?
Crescent formation.
How did the English fleet aim to destroy the Spanish ships?
By firing cannon at them from a distance.
What tactic had Philip instructed for the Spanish ships?
To get close enough to the enemy’s ships for the Spanish sailors to board them.
What did Lord Howard order during the night before the battle?
To fill eight unmanned English ships with inflammable materials and set them on fire.
How did the Spanish react to the fire ships?
They panicked, cut their anchors, and lost their tight battle formation.
What was the result of the fire ships being used?
The Armada was scattered and lost the ability to link up with Parma’s army.
What happened at the Battle of Gravelines?
The battle was fought in poor weather, many ships were lost, and about 50 English sailors died. 1,000 Spanish sailors were killed
What was the impact of the wind on the Armada?
It forced the Spanish fleet out into the North Sea and contributed to their ships being wrecked.
How many Spanish ships struggled back to Spanish ports by the end of the year?
Only about 80 ships.
What was the problem with the Spanish ships compared to the English ones?
Spanish ships were slower and harder to maneuver.
What was the problem with the Spanish guns and cannons?
They were heavier, had a shorter range, and were designed for single shots.
Why were the English guns better than the Spanish guns?
English guns could fire consecutively, allowing them to inflict more damage.
How strong was the english naval army in numbers?
The English had 54 battleships and 140 merchant ships.
How strong was the spanish naval army in numbers?
The Spanish had 64 battleships, including 22 galleons and 45 converted merchant ships.
True or False: The English fleet was able to inflict serious damage on the Armada during the eight days of pursuit.
False
What caused thousands of Spanish sailors to drown or be killed after the battle?
Wreckage off the coasts of Scotland and Ireland.
What advantage did the English have regarding food supplies?
The English had fresh food supplied daily while the Spanish were eating six months’ worth of stored supplies.
This damaged Spanish morale and their ability to fight the English.
How many sailors did the English and Spanish have?
The English had 14,000 sailors, while the Spanish had 30,000 men, of which 8,000 were experienced sailors.
The Spanish sailors were more used to the calmer waters of the Mediterranean.
What was the size of the English and Spanish land forces?
Both the English and Spanish had about 20,000 soldiers.
The English had three main armies placed at Tilbury, Essex, and Kent, while the Spanish were part of the Duke of Parma’s army waiting in the Netherlands.
What was unique about Parma’s army?
Parma’s army was the best-equipped and best-trained in Europe but was still a week’s march away when the Armada anchored at Calais.
This delay affected their ability to join the Armada.
Who was the overall commander of the English forces?
Lord Howard was the Admiral and overall commander of the English forces.
He ordered the sending of fire ships during the conflict.
What significant action did Elizabeth take during the battle?
Elizabeth appeared before her troops at Tilbury, dressed in a helmet and armor, to deliver a famous speech.
She portrayed herself as a powerful leader, stating she had the heart and stomach of a king.
What was the problem with Philip’s choice of the Duke of Medina Sidonia as commander?
The Duke of Medina Sidonia lacked naval experience and suffered from seasickness.
His restrictive orders from Philip II and a lack of improvisation led to difficulties during the campaign.
What was the central element of Philip’s plan for the Armada?
The junction of the Armada and Parma’s army was the central element of Philip’s plan.
This plan was impractical from the outset due to various constraints.
Fill in the blank: The English had _______ soldiers.
20,000 soldiers.
True or False: The Spanish sailors were primarily accustomed to rough seas.
False.
What impact did Elizabeth’s leadership have on her reputation?
She created an image of a powerful leader, known as Gloriana, standing with her subjects against Spain.
This image remained long after 1588.
