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Describe the Protestant Reformation. In your explanation, be sure to mention the following: Martin Luther Printing Press 95 Theses Protestants

Spanish Armada

American HistoryMrs. Cady

Review

In the late 1400’s many countries began to explore.

They included Portugal, Spain, France, and England.

Exploration could lead 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 America existed between France, Spain, and England.

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/treasure.

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

The road to invasion….

Spain: Huge fleet, or armada, of 130 ships, which were

mostly traditional galleons. These ships had a combined purpose of carrying

cargo and soldiers. They were large, slow, and difficult to steer, but they

were strong. The armada was controlled by soldiers, not

sailors.

The road to invasion….

England: Without the burden of having to pay for a war,

England became prosperous and in 1568 Elizabeth used money to increase the size of the navy.

The new ships that were built were faster and easier to steer than before.

The navy ships were controlled by sailors, not soldiers.

The Plan…..The armada sails through the English Channel to France and then to Netherlands (controlled by Spain).

• From there, they would be joined by an army of 30,000 men and attack the English coast.

July 21-30,1588

Armada leaves Spain and heads for the English Channel.

Armada enters English Channel, where they are surprised to find the main English fleet.

The Armada falls into a

crescent formation.

July 31st - August 1st 1588

English ships attack outermost Spanish vessels with long-range gunfire.

1 Spanish ship explodes, another is captured. The Spanish Armada sails away towards the

coast of France.

August 2, 1588

English and Spanish ships engage in fierce battles. English ships fire heavily on Spanish but do little damage. Ammunition runs low on both sides.

August 3-6 1588

The English get more ammunition.

The Armada therefore sailed on to Calais (France) to meet a Spanish army that was supposed to help join the fight.

The Armada drops anchor close to shore, but soon discovers the invading army is not ready.

 Many of the Armada's captains wanted to just go ashore and attack England by land,

but Spain’s orders strictly forbade this.

You are England

The Spanish Armada is waiting in the English Channel for army troops to arrive so they can attack you as soon as possible.

They are weak with injured troops and low supplies, but they are keeping their formation close to the shore.

You have a smaller fleet (only sailors, not soldiers), but your ships are much faster and easier to steer.

What is your plan?

If you try to invade, they will see you coming and attack.

You decide you must do something to stop the Spanish Armada before they regain their strength and attack your fleet.

With your group, make a plan of attack.

August 7-8 1588 At midnight, England sent eight fire

ships, covered in tar, into the congested Spanish ranks.

Many Spanish captains cut their cables, which attached the boats together, in an attempt to escape the flames.

They blundered away from the blaze straight into the gunfire of the waiting English.

August 7-8 1588

• Unfortunately for the Spanish, their fire power was vastly inferior to that of the English.

• A change of wind blew the Armada North out of the range of English fire.

August 13, 1588

After being exhausted by English ships and battered by storms, the Armada sails north, intending to round the coast of Scotland and sail south to Spain. Conditions on board the ships are poor.

August - OctoberFierce storms drive many ships

towards the Irish coast. More than 25 ships are wrecked

and thousands of crew drown, or are killed by English soldiers when they reach shore.

About two-thirds of the Armada eventually escapes bad weather and sail home to Spain.

The Result of the Invasion…

At that time England was a small nation with a small navy who faced and defeated the greatest power in the world (Spain). 

England is now known for impressive navy.

After the war, they started serious explorations of New World.

Final Thoughts

The defeat of the Spanish Armada marked the rise of England and the fall of Spain in race for ownership of North America.

Many other countries began to explore the New World.