Early Elizabethan England, 1568-88: Relations with Spain and the Armada
Relations between early Elizabethan England and Spain worsened steadily after 1568, driven by religious rivalry between Protestant England and Catholic Spain, competition over trade, and Elizabeth's decision to send troops to help the Protestant Dutch rebels fighting Spanish rule.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Learn the causes of Anglo-Spanish conflict as separate factors: religion (Protestant England against Catholic Spain), trade and piracy (English privateers such as Drake raiding Spanish shipping and colonies), Elizabeth's military support for the Dutch Revolt under the Treaty of Nonsuch (1585), and the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (1587).
- Learn Drake's raid on Cadiz precisely: in April 1587 he attacked the Spanish port, destroying ships and supplies and delaying the Armada's departure by about a year, an event nicknamed 'singeing the King of Spain's beard'.
- Learn the key facts of the Armada campaign of 1588: around 130 Spanish ships aimed to link with the Duke of Parma's invasion force in the Netherlands; the English fleet under Lord Howard of Effingham and Francis Drake used smaller, faster ships and long-range guns, fireships to break up the Armada's anchored formation off Calais, and won the Battle of Gravelines; storms then destroyed many Spanish ships as they fled around Scotland and Ireland.
- For 'describe two features of' questions on Anglo-Spanish relations or the Armada, choose two specific, factual features (e.g. Drake's raid on Cadiz, and the use of fireships) rather than a general account of 'the war with Spain'.
- For 'explain why' questions on why relations with Spain broke down, or why England defeated the Armada, treat religion, trade rivalry, the Dutch Revolt and naval tactics as separate factors, each with a specific piece of supporting detail.
- For 16-mark judgement questions on the causes of war or the reasons for English success, weigh at least two named causes or factors against each other before reaching a supported judgement about which mattered most.
Worked example
Explain why the Spanish Armada of 1588 failed to invade England. You may use the following in your answer: English naval tactics, and the weather. You must also use information of your own.
- Plan the two given factors plus one of your own: English naval tactics, the weather, and a third point such as Drake's earlier raid on Cadiz.
- Develop the tactics point: the English fleet, commanded by Lord Howard of Effingham with Drake as vice admiral, used smaller, faster, better-armed ships to harry the Armada up the Channel, then sent fireships into the Spanish fleet anchored off Calais, forcing it to scatter in panic before the Battle of Gravelines.
- Develop the weather point: after Gravelines, the scattered Armada was forced to flee north around Scotland and Ireland, where severe storms wrecked many ships, so that only about half the original fleet returned safely to Spain.
- Add the own-knowledge point: Drake's raid on Cadiz in April 1587 had already destroyed Spanish ships and supplies, delaying the Armada's departure by roughly a year and giving England more time to prepare its defences.
- Conclude by linking the points: skilful English tactics broke up the Armada's formation and prevented it from linking with the Duke of Parma's invasion force, and the storms that followed then destroyed much of what remained, so no successful landing in England ever took place.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1What was the Treaty of Nonsuch (1585)?Show answer
Answer: An agreement under which Elizabeth sent English troops, under the Earl of Leicester, to help the Protestant Dutch rebels fighting against Spanish rule.
Q2What did Francis Drake do at Cadiz in April 1587?Show answer
Answer: He raided the Spanish port, destroying ships and supplies and delaying the Armada's departure by about a year.
Q3Roughly how many ships made up the Spanish Armada sent in 1588?Show answer
Answer: Around 130 ships.
Q4Who commanded the English fleet against the Armada, with Drake as vice admiral?Show answer
Answer: Lord Howard of Effingham.
Q5What tactic did the English use to break up the Armada's formation off Calais?Show answer
Answer: Fireships, sent in among the anchored Spanish fleet to force it to scatter.
Q6What role did the weather play in the Armada's defeat?Show answer
Answer: After being scattered at Gravelines, the fleeing Armada was hit by severe storms as it sailed around Scotland and Ireland, wrecking many ships and reducing the fleet that returned to Spain to about half its original size.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE History exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Describe two features of the Spanish Armada campaign of 1588.
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Explain why the Spanish Armada of 1588 failed to invade England. You may use the following in your answer: English naval tactics, and the weather. You must also use information of your own.
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'Religion was the main cause of war between England and Spain by 1588.' How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: religious rivalry, and Elizabeth's support for the Dutch Revolt. You must also use information of your own.
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Free printable worksheet
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