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Elizabethan England, c1568–1603

Conflict with Spain

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2 section B

Overview

Religion, privateering and the Netherlands as causes, Philip II's plan for the Armada, the commanders, the two kinds of galleon, the crescent formation, the fireships at Calais, Gravelines, the voyage home round Scotland, and Tilbury.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

How was the Spanish Armada of 1588 fought in the Channel and off Calais?

Key term

How did religion push England and Spain towards war?

Numbers

How did the Netherlands draw the two countries into open conflict?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How did religion push England and Spain towards war?

    Model answer

    Philip II saw himself as the defender of the Catholic faith and wanted Protestant rule in England brought to an end.

  2. 2

    How did English privateering anger Spain?

    Model answer

    Captains such as Drake robbed treasure ships and colonial ports with the queen's private backing, and she refused to hand the plunder back.

  3. 3

    How did the Netherlands draw the two countries into open conflict?

    Model answer

    Elizabeth agreed the Treaty of Nonsuch in 1585 and sent Leicester with an army to help the Dutch rebels against Spanish rule.

  4. 4

    What was Philip II's plan for the Armada in 1588?

    Model answer

    The fleet would sail up the Channel, join the Duke of Parma's army waiting in the Netherlands and ferry it across to invade England.

  5. 5

    Who commanded the two fleets in 1588?

    Model answer

    The Duke of Medina Sidonia led the Armada, while Lord Howard of Effingham commanded the English fleet with Drake as vice-admiral.

  6. 6

    How did Spanish and English warships differ?

    Model answer

    Spanish galleons were tall and crowded with soldiers for boarding, while English race-built galleons sat lower, sailed faster and carried long-range guns that could be reloaded quickly.

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