England and Spain's relationship

• Why was England interested in the Americas for trade?

  • Spain had disrupted English trade as England relied on trade with the Netherlands which Spain had taken control of
  • The Americas had become a key part of Spain's empire, by 1536 they controlled Mexico, Peru, Chile and the Caribbean
  • Mexico and Peru possessed huge reserves of silver
  • The Caribbean contained crops like tobacco and sugar which were rare in European markets
• What is a privateer?

  A merchant/explorer hired or supported by the government whose role was to steal cargo or ships of rival countries
• When was Sir Francis Drake's first voyage?

  1566
• Who did Sir Francis Drake go on his voyage with and who was he to him?

  His cousin John Hawkins
• Why did Drake form a hatred of the Spanish?

  • Spanish ships attacked his and Hawkins' fleet in 1568
  • Only two of the six ships survived the attack
• When did Elizabeth hire Drake as a privateer?

  1572
• What had Drake done that made Elizabeth aware of him?

  Sailed two successful voyages to the West Indies between 1570 and 1571