Challenges for Elizabeth at home and abroad 1569-88 - WAR AND THE ARMADA Flashcards
(36 cards)
1
Q
OUTBREAK OF WAR
What led to the Treaty of Nonsuch 1585?
A
- Dutch Protestants came to England offering the opportunity for Elizabeth to become their Queen
- Elizabeth refused because she didn’t want to dispose Phillip
- She signs the Treaty instead with Dutch protestants
2
Q
OUTBREAK OF WAR
What were the terms of the Treaty of Nonsuch?
A
- England would intervene in the Netherlands - supporting Dutch Protestants
- Elizabeth sends 7,400 English troops led by Robert Dudley who would work with the rebels’ government - war not formally declared yet
3
Q
OUTBREAK OF WAR
From what years was the campaign in the Netherlands? Who led it?
A
- 1585-87
- Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
4
Q
OUTBREAK OF WAR
Why was England’s intervention in the Netherlands not a great success?(3)
A
- Elizabeth still hoped to negotiate with Phillip II - not formally at war with Spain so Dudley was not given enough money, men or supplies to defeat the Spanish
- Some of Dudley’s officers like William Stanley joined the Spanish - damaged relations with Dutch Rebels
- Different aims - Dudley wanted to make the Netherlands independent while Elizabeth wanted to return the Netherlands to how it was under Spanish control with some freedoms
5
Q
OUTBREAK OF WAR
What happened in January 1586?
A
- Robert Dudley accepted title of Governor General of Netherlands in Elizabeth’s behalf
- She was furious as this implied she was deposing King Phillip II as King of the Netherlands
6
Q
OUTBREAK OF WAR
What happened in the summer of 1586?
A
-
7
Q
OUTBREAK OF WAR
What did the campaign achieve?
A
- Dudley only disrupted Spanish forces led by Duke of Parma in the Netherlands, not defeat them
- Dudley achieved to stop the Spanish from capturing Ostend, a port on the English channel - this was important as it denied the Spanish Armada the chance to link up with the Duke of Parma’s troops in 1588
8
Q
OUTBREAK OF WAR
Why did Elizabeth order Francis Drake to attack the Spanish navy in March 1587?
A
- Since 1586 Spain had been building ships ready to invade England
- Armada : Phillip II massive invasion fleet that was due to help Spanish Army invade England
9
Q
OUTBREAK OF WAR
What was the Singeing of the King’s Beard 1587?
A
- Sir Francis Drake attacked Cadiz - where the majority of Spanish voyages started, it held the majority of Spain’s most advanced and valuable ships
- 30 Spanish ships were looted, burnt or sunk by his raid
10
Q
OUTBREAK OF WAR
What happened after the Singeing?
A
- Drake sailed to Azores and captured treasure ships
- Returned to England with 114,000 worth of stolen Spanish treasure
11
Q
OUTBREAK OF WAR
What was the importance of Drake’s attacks on Cadiz and Spain?
A
- Spain had to take a break from building the Armada in order to defend itself against Drake
- Disruption Drake caused delayed the Armada by a year which meant Spain had to rush and weren’t completely ready when they invaded England
- Gave England more time to prepare for the Spanish Armada in 1588
12
Q
ARMADA
Why did Phillip launch the Spanish Armada?
A
- Religious conflict
- Politics and diplomacy
- Acts of provocation
- Changing circumstances
13
Q
ARMADA
What was the religious conflict leading to the Armada?(3)
A
- Plots had already failed, the armada and invasion gave him another opportunity to remove her and make England Catholic
- Papacy had wanted to overthrow Elizabeth since her excommucation in 1570
- Pope promised absolution(forgiveness of sins) for those who took part in the Armada
14
Q
ARMADA
What was the politics and diplomacy leading to the Armada?(3)
A
- Treaty of Joinville 1584 meant Spain could attack England without risking war with France
- Treaty of Nonsuch 1585 meant English soldiers were at war with Spain, Phillip could justify attacking England
- England would be an useful addition to Philip’s empire, completely control of the Atlantic
15
Q
ARMADA
What were the Acts of Provocation leading to the Armada?
A
- Drake’s actions in the New World threatened Spanish commercial interests
- Elizabeth’s support for Dutch rebels - sending them money and troops - challenged Spanish interests there
16
Q
ARMADA
What were the changing circumstances leading to the Armada?(3)
A
- Spain acquired Portugal in 1580 which gave Phillip II access to Portuguese ports and ships
- Duke of Parma’s success in the Netherlands since 1579 meant Spain’s position there was secure
- Elizabeth’s hesitation to fully back Dutch rebels was a sign of weakness and encouraged Philip to attack
17
Q
ARMADA
What was Phillip II’s strategy he had planned out?
A
- Armada (130 large ships and 2431 guns) would saild along the English Channel to the Netherlands
- Ships would join forces with Spanish troops under the Duke of Parma and transport 27,000 troops to Kent
- Spanish army would attack London, end Elizabeth’s reign and establish a new Catholic government
18
Q
ARMADA
What were the Spanish tactics?
A
- Spanish needed control of the English Channel to transport Parma’s troops to England
- Vital that English Navy disrupt Spanish shipping because the Spanish had a bigger and better army than England and were likely to defeat them
19
Q
ARMADA
Why could the Armada be such a big threat to Elizabeth?
A
- Elizabeth could lose her throne and possibly her life
- For English Protestants + Privy Council it meant the restoration of Catholicism in England and persecution of Protestants
20
Q
ARMADA
How many ships + soldiers did the Spanish have compared to English?
A
- 130 to 200(small galleons) ships
- 30,000 to 20,000 soldiers
21
Q
ARMADA
How many cannons did the Spanish Armada have?
A
2431
22
Q
ARMADA
What happened to the Armada in 1588?
A
- 29 July - Armada is spotted in English Channel
- 31 July - Battle of Plymouth - two Spanish ships are captured
- 3-4 August - Battle of Isle of Wight - Spanish ships are outgunned by the English and forced to move further up the Channel
- 8 August - Battle of Gravelines - fireships cause the Spanish to panic, Spanish fleet never links up with Duke of Parma and is scattered
23
Q
ARMADA
Who was the Duke fo Medina-Sidonia?
A
- Commander of the Spanish Navy
- Not experienced sailor, allegedly had sea sickness
24
Q
ARMADA
What were the reasons for English victory?
A
- Communication problems
- Spanish were not well prepared
- English ships were better armed and equipped
- English tactics were superior
- Weather
- Spanish panicked
25
# ARMADA
How was communication issues during the Armada?
- No communication between Duke of Parma and Duke of Medina-Sidonia
- Messages had to be sent by sea - vulnerable to attack
- No deep-water ports like Ostend(Robert Dudley captured it), meant that Armada could not stop at any ports in the Netherlands which made communication very difficult to meet Duke of Parma and his troops
26
# ARMADA
How was the Spanish being unprepared an issue?
- Ships lacked supplies and provisions like food for a long voyage
- Spanish fleet was at sea for 10 weeks and by early August the food had rotted - damaged their ability to fight
27
# ARMADA
How were English ships better armed and equipped in comparison?
- Cannons were mounted on smaller gun carriages which meant they could be reloaded and fired more quickly than Spanish cannons
- Damaged many Spanish ships and undermined their chances of linking up with Duke of Parma
28
# ARMADA
How were English tactics superior?
- English ships had smaller cannons with longer range so they hit the Armada from a distance
- Armada was unable to get close enough to English ships to use their more powerful cannon
- Drake's use of fireships at the Battle of Gravelines - caused the Spanish fleet to panic and scatter
29
# ARMADA
How was the Spanish panicking an issue?
- Battle of Gravelines
- Many Spanish captains panicked, cut their anchors and allowed their ships to drift into the North Sea
30
# ARMADA
How was the weather an issue?
- Gale force winds caused most of the destruction to Spanish ships as they retreated home
- Spanish ships were destroyed off the west of Ireland
31
# ARMADA
What were the consequences of the English victory for England?
- English navy strengthened
- Elizabeth's authority enhanced
- Stronger alliances in Europe
- Protestant cause stronger in England
32
# ARMADA
How did the English navy strengthen as a result?
- Defeat of the Armada showed the strength of the English Navy
- Boosted English confidence to explore
- Encouraged English merchants to trade with Europe
33
# ARMADA
How was Elizabeth's authority enhanced?
- Victory parade in London
- Portrayed herself as a military victor
- Propaganda to celebrate - Armada portrait 1588
- Improved her legitimacy as England's monarch
34
# ARMADA
How were there stronger alliances with Europe as a result?
- Anglo Dutch alliance was strengthened
- Protestantism survived in the Netherlands, England had Protestant allies in Europe and was no longer isolated
35
# ARMADA
How was there a stronger Protestant cause in England as a result?
- Elizabeth emphasised the defeat of the Armada as a religious victory
- God on the Protestant side, strengthening Protestantism across Europe
- Medal :"God blew and they were scattered"
- Spanish Armada shows Catholicism as hostile and foreign
36
# ARMADA
What were the consequences of the English victory for Spain?
- Major military and financial setback for King Phillip II
- Spain's war with England continues for the rest of Elizabeth's reign
- Spanish prestige was broken - gradual decline of the Spanish Empire
