Rivarly with Spain

• Religious differences

  Spain was a Catholic country and England a Protestant country, leading to conflicting spiritual outlooks between the two rulers
• Elizabeth was a cautious ruler who acted carefully to preserve England’s security
• Rivalry with Spain


  Spain remained friendly with England during the early years of Elizabeth’s reign. Tension built up over time leading to war in 1585 and an invasion of England in 1588, known as the Spanish Armada
• Marriage rejection

  King Philip of Spain had been married to Elizabeth’s sister, Mary I. When Mary died, he offered to marry Elizabeth but she rejected him
• Elizabeth faced challenges throughout her long reign - from Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Spanish Armada
• Piracy

  English sailors like Hawkins and Drake attacked and stole treasure from Spanish ships in the New World, leading to tension with King Philip of Spain
• The civil war in France


  France was the traditional enemy of both England and Spain. However, with France in civil war, the alliance between Spain and England was no longer necessary
• Spain supported Catholic plots


  There was evidence of Spanish support for plots to restore Catholicism to England, particularly involving getting Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne and Elizabeth off
• England and Spain were now at war


  Due to the culmination of various tensions and conflicts, England and Spain were at war
• Elizabeth’s army joined the Dutch rebels

  Elizabeth sent an army to help the Dutch rebels fight Spain, marking the first time English and Spanish armies were fighting each other
• The Dutch Revolt

  Protestants in the Netherlands began a revolt against Spanish rule in 1572. Elizabeth secretly supported the Dutch rebels to keep the Spanish too busy to threaten England
• Issue: The civil war in France

  France was the traditional enemy of both England and Spain, meaning that they united together against the country. Now France was in civil war it was preoccupied with its own issues and no longer posed a threat – so the alliance between Spain and England was not necessary anymore
• Issue: Piracy

  English sailors like Hawkins and Drake attacked and stole treasure from Spanish ships in the New World. King Philip was furious but Elizabeth encouraged and rewarded adventurers
• Issue: Spain supported Catholic plots


  There was evidence of Spanish support for plots to restore Catholicism to England, particularly involving getting Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne and Elizabeth off
• Issue: Religious differences

  Spain was a Catholic country and England a Protestant country – meaning that the two rulers had conflicting spiritual outlooks
• Issue: The Dutch Revolt

  Protestants in the Netherlands began a revolt against Spanish rule in 1572. Elizabeth secretly supported the Dutch rebels because she knew the Dutch revolt would keep the Spanish too busy to threaten England
• England and Spain


  For the first time English and Spanish armies were fighting each other
• Issue: Marriage rejection

  King Philip of Spain had been married to Elizabeth’s sister, Mary I. When Mary died he offered to marry Elizabeth but she rejected him
• England and Spain

  England and Spain were now at war
• Issue: Elizabeth’s army joined the Dutch rebels


  Elizabeth sent an army to help the Dutch rebels fight Spain. For the first time English and Spanish armies were fighting each other. England and Spain were now at war
• The Netherlands were ruled by Spain but the English saw the Netherlands as a vital place for trade
• By 1572 Protestant ideas had spread in the Netherlands and Protestant Dutch rebels began a campaign for independence from Catholic Spain, leading to the Dutch Revolt
• Following the death of the Dutch rebel leader, William of Orange, Elizabeth was approached to become Queen of the Dutch. She declined but sent an army to fight with the Dutch against Spain
• What did Phillip do in reaction to the Dutch revolt?


  Sent the Duke of Alba with 10 000 men
• What was the treaty of Nonsuch?

  The Treaty of Nonsuch was signed by Elizabeth I in 1585. It promised to finance 7,400 soldiers to help the Dutch Protestant rebels fight the Spanish. Elizabeth sent an army to the Netherlands under the Earl of Leicester. The Netherlands belonged to Spain so this meant that England and Spain were effectively at war.
• Label this: about reasons for the rivarly with Spain

  A) France at civil war

  B) Priacy

  C) Spain Supporting Plots against Elizabeth

  D) Religious Differences

  E) Marriage Rejection

  F) Elizabeth supporting the Dutch Revolt