Challanges at home and abroad, 1569 - 88

Question 1

The Revolt of the Northern Earls happened in….

Answer 1

1569-1570

Question 2

Why did the Northern Earls rebel?

Answer 2

• Wanted to make England Catholic again
• Had lost much of their influence in Elizabeth’s court
• Elizabeth’s refusal to name an heir or to marry caused uncertainty.

Question 3

The marriage plan

Answer 3

Mary would marry Duke of Norfolk and overthrow Elizabeth - Robert Dudley discovered it which lead to Norfolk’s arrest.

Question 4

Why did the revolt fail? (NE)

Answer 4

• Support from Spain never arrived
• Many landowners remained loyal to Elizabeth

Question 5

The revolt’s significance (NE)

Answer 5

• Showed that Mary could not be supported
• The pope excommunicated Elizabeth which encouraged further plots
• Elizabeth’s strength over England was strengthened

Question 6

The Ridolfi Plot

Answer 6

• Roberto Ridolfi was an italian banker who was also a spy for the pope
• In March 1571 Ridolfi travelled to Netherlands and delivered a letter signed by Norfolk which pledged that he would lead the rebellion with the Popes support
• Sir William Cecil discovered the plot and both Norfolk and Mary were set to be executed
• Yet Elizabeth was reluctant to punish Mary

Question 7

Significance of the Ridolfi Plot

Answer 7

• Reinforced the threat from Spain
• Confirmed that English Catholics and Mary remained a threat
• Meant that England needed to improve relations with France

Question 8

The Throckmorton plot 1583

Answer 8

• French Duke of Guise planned to overthrow Elizabeth
• Phillip II offered to pay for the revolt and the Pope approved
• Francis Throckmorton would pass letters inbetween
• Failed because Throckmorton was arrested and tortured until he confessed and was tortured.

Question 9

Significance of the Throckmorton plot

Answer 9

• Revealed the extent of threat posed by foreign powers, english catholics and Mary
• Up to 11000 catholics were imprisoned because of suspicion

Question 10

The Babington Plot 1586

Answer 10

• Anthony Babington , a catholic, wrote to Mary about the conspiracy of a plot
• Francis Walsingham intercepted and Babington and the other plotters were arrested and executed
• Mary was sentenced to death in October 1586 but was later executed in 1587.

Question 11

Significance of the Babington Plot

Answer 11

• By 1585, England and Spain were virtually at war
• The persecution of Catholics intensified
• Led to the execution of Mary

Question 12

Walsingham’s Spies

Answer 12

• Used ciphers for all correspondence
• Had a network of spies everywhere
• Had spies abroad
• Employed agent provocateurs who would encourage people to who were seen as a threat to involve themselves in the plots.

Question 13

Significance of the execution of Mary

Answer 13

• Mary was an anointed monarch
• The execution further angered Spain and gave Phillip II further reason to attack England
• Increased chances of a Civil War
• Removed an important threat to Elizabeth

Question 14

Religious Rivalry between English and Spain

Answer 14

• Phillip II saw Protestantism as a threat to the authority of the Catholic Church
• English Protestants saw Catholicism and Spain as a threat
• Phillip II of Spain became involved in Catholic plots

Question 15

Spanish policy in the Netherlands

Answer 15

• Netherlands had been Spanish since 1400s but many Dutch became Protestant.
• Spanish Catholics executed many Dutch Protestants in 1568
• The spanish campaign in the Netherlands was seen as a direct threat to England and Protestantism.

Question 16

English response to the Spanish

Answer 16

• Allowed Dutch rebel ships safe passage in English ports
• Provided financial support others fighting Spain
• English privateers, like Sir Francis Drake, were encouraged to attack Spanish ships and colonies in Latin America

Question 17

The Spanish Fury and Pacification of Ghent 1576

Answer 17

1576 - The Spanish Gov in the Netherlands found the war too costly. This resulted in the Spanish Fury when Spanish troops looted Antwerp. After, all 17 Dutch provinces joined an allience against the Spanish, drawn up in a document called the Pacification of Ghent.

Question 18

Restoring Spanish Influence

Answer 18

By late 1584:
- Spanish control on the netherlands had been restored under the Duke of Parma
- Duke of Alencon and William of Orange was dead
- Treaty of Joinville 1584 strengthened relations between Catholic France and Spain
- Dutch Catholics were ready to make peace with Spain

Question 19

England and Spain close to war by 1587

Answer 19

• Phillip II blamed English support of the Dutch rebels for making the situation worse
• Phillip II blamed English privateers for attacks on Spanish shipping
• Elizabeths gov blamed Spain for a series of plots

Question 20

Commercial Rivalry

Answer 20

• Spain has conquered Spain and Mexico - causin them to have lots of gold and silver
• Spain aslo had control over sugar cane an tobacco
• English sailors like Francis Drake were journeying great distances on trading voyages to different parts of the world.

Question 21

Privateering

Answer 21

• In one raid alone in 1572, Sir Francis Drake captured £40,000 in Spanish silver
• Elizabeth encouraged Dutch rebels known as the Sea Beggars, to attack Spanish ships
• By 1580, loss of silver meant the Spanish gov could not pay their soldiers

Question 22

Treaty of Nonsuch 1585

Answer 22

• England would pay for an army of 7,400 English soldiers led by Robert Dudley to help the Dutch Rebels

Question 23

The campaign in the Netherlands

Answer 23

• Elizabeth still hoped to negotiate with Phillip II
• Some of Dudley’s officers defected to the Spanish side
• Dudley and Elizabeth had different aims in the Netherlands

Question 24

The results of the campaign in the Netherlands

Answer 24

• Dudley could not defeat the Spanish forces
• Managed to stop the Spanish from capturing a deep-water port on the English channel.

Question 25

Singeing of the Kings of Spain’s Beard

Answer 25

• Since 1586, Spain has been building up their armada
• In March 1587, Elizabeth offered Francis Drake to attack the Spanish navy
• Between 19 and 22 April he attacked Cadiz destroying 30 ships and much of the fleet’s supplies

Question 26

Importance of Singeing of the Kings of Spain’s Beard

Answer 26

• Spain has to take a break from building their armada
• Caused the armada to be delayed by a year
• Bought England more time to prepare

Question 27

4 Reasons why Phillip launched the Armada

Answer 27

• Religious conflict
• Acts of provocations
• Changing circumstances
• Politics and Diplomacy

Question 28

Elizabeth was excommunicated in…

Answer 28

1570

Question 29

Phillip II’s Armada

Answer 29

130 ships and 2431guns

Question 30

Phillip II’s Armada

Answer 30

• Ordered the Armada to sail along the English Channel to Netherlands
• From there, the ships would join forces with spanish troops under the Duke of Parma and transport 27000 troops to Kent
• The army would then attack London.

Question 31

Events at the Armada

Answer 31

• 29 July: Armada is spotted in the English Channel
• 31 July: Battle of Plymouth, two Spanish ships caught
• 3-4 August: Battle of the Isle of Wight. Spanish ships are outgunned and forced to move further up towars Calais
• 8 August: Battle of Gravelines. Fireships cause Spanish ships to panic and the fleet never meets with the Duke of Parma and are scattered.

Question 32

Reasons for the English Victory

Answer 32

• The weather: Caused destruction to the Spanish ships
• Communication problems: No communication between Duke of Parma and Duke of Medina Sidonia
• Spanish ships lacked supplies and provisions
• English tactics were superior: The English got close enough to fire on them but far away enough to prevent sailord and soldiers from boarding
• English ships were better armed and equipped

Question 33

Consequences of the English victory for England

Answer 33

• English Navy strengthened
• Elizabeth’s authority enhanced
• Foreign policy: stronger alliences in Europe
• Protestant cause stronger in England

Question 34

Consequences of the English victory for Spain

Answer 34

• Military and financial setback
• War continued for the rest of Elizabeth’s reign
• Spanish prestige was broken