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The Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada
Review In the late 1400’s many countries began to
explore. They included Portugal, Spain, France, and
England. Exploration could led to new wealth. Under the idea of mercantilism, the more wealth
a country possesses the more power it could gain.
The power struggle for North American existed between France, Spain, and England.
A Powerful Spanish Empire
Phillip II could be aggressive for the sake of his empire – it provided him with a lot of wealth
Believed it was his duty to defend Catholicism against Muslims of the Ottoman Empire and Protestants
History Frame Activity
The Key Players… Wanted England to be a
Catholic country. Angry at execution of
Mary, Queen of Scots. Decided to invade
England. Ordered a huge fleet of
ships (ARMADA) to be built.
King Philip II of Spain
The Key Players…
Determined that England would remain a Protestant country.
Ordered English ships to attack Spanish ships and take their cargo.
Queen Elizabeth I of England
The Key Players… Very successful
sailor. Made the first English
voyage around the world.
Robbed and destroyed the Spanish ships.
Knighted on return.
Sir Francis Drake of England
Sir Frances Drake Cont…. As a sailor, Drake's successful battles against the
Spanish helped England become very powerful. The Spanish had conquered much of central and South
America by 1550. Their ships carried back large amounts of gold and silver
to Spain. Drake’s ships use to attack these treasure ships and
steal their goods. Drake's ships captured a huge amount of gold and silver
on their trip around the world. When he returned home in 1580 he was knighted.
The Causes of Invasion… Many attacks on the Spanish at
sea by the English. Queen Elizabeth sent
reinforcements to help the Dutch fight the Spanish.
Mary, Queen of Scots, is executed – she is next in line to the throne and a Catholic.
The Pope agrees that Spain can attack England to restore the Catholic Church.
The road to invasion…. Philip II of Spain was angry that Queen
Elizabeth had not punished Sir Francis Drake for attacking Spanish ships and got together a huge fleet of ships. He sent the armada to fight against the English.
A huge fleet, or armada of 130 ships was to sail up the English Channel to the Netherlands. It would be joined by an army of 30,000 men and take them to the English coast. There they would land and invade England returning it to the Catholic religion.
The Invasion…..
On Aug. 6, 1588, the Spanish Armada anchored at Calais. The English filled eighty ships with flammable materials and set fire to them. The Spanish panicked and fled to the open sea. In the open sea, the Armada wasn’t in formation, so the Spanish ships were easy targets for English artillery. The Spanish tried to sail close to the English ships so their soldiers could board them. However the English ships were too quick and could easily keep their distance. Many Spanish galleons were sunk. The survivors fled north. The Armada successfully sailed around Scotland. However as it continued on south towards Spain it encountered terrible weather. Strong winds and terrible rain forced many ships onto rocks near Ireland. Some Spanish made it ashore, only to be killed by English soldiers and settlers.
The Result of the Invasion… The Armada is famous because at that time England
was a small nation with a small navy and they were facing the greatest power in the world (Spain). They defeated Spain, with help from a storm.
It marked the beginning of England's mastery of the seas. The great history of the English navy began, as did serious English exploration and colonization.
The defeat of the Spanish Armada marked the rise of England and the fall of Spain in race for ownership of North America.
Let’s not forget….
The Spanish had already conquered much of central and South America, which remained in their possession.
Final thought…..
Although the war between England and Spain continued until 1604, the defeat of the Armada marked the end of Spanish control of the seas, leaving open the opportunity for England to start colonies in North America.
Recap…..
The Spanish Armada
Convert England back to the Catholic Religion.
Off the coast of England1588
Spain (King Philip II)England (Queen Elizabeth & Sir France Drake)
The defeat of the Spanish Armada marked the rise of England and the fall of Spain in race for ownership of North America.
If it wasn’t for the defeat of the Spanish Armada, England may have never had the opportunity to colonize in North America.
1. England upsets Spain.
2. The Spanish send an Armada to defeat and covert England back to Catholicism.
3. England, led by Sir Frances Drake and helped by the weather, defeat the Armada in a series of battles.
Exit Question #1
The Spanish Armada of 1588 was fought between which two countries?
A. Italy and SpainB. Scotland and EnglandC. England and SpainD. France and England
Exit Question #2
Which sea captain helped save England?
A. Sir Frances DrakeB. Christopher ColumbusC. Sir England BrakesD. Leif Erickson
Exit Question #3
Which country focused strongly on colonization of North America after the Spanish Armada?
A. FranceB. EnglandC. SpainD. All of the above
Exit Question #4
France’s main focus in North America was establishing trading post.
A. True B. False
Exit Question #5
The defeat of the Spanish Armada marked the rise of England and the fall of Spain in race for ownership of North America.
A. TrueB. False
