12. Spanish Armada

In what year did the Spanish Armada set sail from Spain to invade England?

• 1585

• 1587

• 1588

• 1590

Who was the commander of the Spanish Armada? - (he had NO experience leading a navy...he was selected due to his noble status and loyalty to Philip)

• Duke of Medina Sidonia

• Duke of Parma

• Sir Francis Drake

• Lord Howard of Effingham

Out of the 151 ships that set sail, how many Spanish ships returned home?

• 120

• 98

• 65

• 0

In order of importance, which were the reasons why the Spanish Armada failed:

• Bad Luck

  - Storms - Spanish were caught in a terrible storm which forced many ships north were they crashed onto the Irish shore and were slaughtered or they died of starvation due to the lack of seasoned barrels (Drakes 1587 Singing!)

• English Skill:

  • -Fire ships (8) caused Spanish fleet to break strong crescent formation

  • - English cannons could fire from 100m so could attack from a safe distance

• Spanish Mistakes:

  -Leader of Spanish fleet (Duke of Medina Sidonia) had no naval experienced.

  - No reinforcements - The Spanish plan relied on stopping to pick up extra soldiers in France, but the fleet was unable to anchor due to its size

  - .Tactics failed - Spanish were unable to get close enough to English ships to board them, whereas the English tactic was to fire cannons from a safe distance

State three reasons why the Spanish Armada was important (consequences)

Answer explanation

• Strengthened Protestantism: victory used as propaganda - Protestant victory over the Spanish Catholics (GOD on their side)

• Established England as a naval super power: marked the beginning of England's naval dominance and the end of the Spanish - led to rise of British Empire

• Improved Elizabeth's legitimacy: The victory proved that a queen could win military campaigns / save England from invasion

What was the goal of the Spanish Armada?

• To establish a trade route with England

• To invade and overthrow Queen Elizabeth I

• To negotiate a peace treaty with England

• To explore new territories in the New World

Discuss the role of weather in the outcome of the Spanish Armada's campaign.

Answer explanation

The strong wind blew the Spanish ships north -

strong hurricane winds led to ships being blown into the rocks - Scottish and Irish killed survivors who made it on land.

Spanish did not have maps of north - lost at sea and died of starvation/dehydration due to lack of SEASONED wood.

 Elizabeth = sign God had intervened

Reorder the following:

Write an account of the Spanish Armada

• Wind pushed damaged Spanish Armada further North where many crashed on coast of Ireland (killed by locals), or died of starvation due to lack of seasoned wood

• Out of 151 ships only 65 returned - English victory = protestant strengths, led to navy becoming superpower

• Strong wind pushed Spanish up to 'Gravelines' where the English inflicted heavy damage to Spanish with their cannons - Spanish unable to get close enough to board (their plan!)

• Spanish Armada set sail with 151 ships, and planned to sail to Netherlands to collect more soldiers (failed to do)

• While anchord near Calais, the Spanish ships broke their strong crescent formation when Drake ordered 8 fireships to be sent in - slow Spanish ships panicked!

How many fireships were sent into the Spanish fleet and caused panic - led to them breaking strong crescent formation?

• 8

• 80

• 188

• 18