Elizabethan England

• Henry Vlll - father of Elizabeth l.
• Anne Boleyn - mother of Elizabeth l.
• Edward Vl - half-brother of Elizabeth l.
• Mary l - half-sister of Elizabeth l.
• Problems Elizabeth faced when she became queen - religious conflict, illegitimacy, gender, privy council, heir, peace and prosperity, foreign threats.
• Elizabeth was protestant.
• Ridolfi plot - 1571.
• Throckmorton plot - 1583.
• Babington plot - 1586.
• Revolt of the Northern Earls - 1569.
• Francis Walsingham (spymaster general) intercepted incriminating evidence against Mary Queen of Scots.
• Reasons for Spanish conflict - religious rivalry, political rivalry, trade and commercial rivalry, English direct involvement in the Netherlands, Francis Drake's piracy.
• Mary Queen of Scots executed in February 1587.
• English preparation for Armada - 1587 - warning beacons set up along coast, trading ships converted to fighting ships.
• Raid on Cadiz - 1587.
• Raid on Cadiz - diverted Spanish ships to Drake, not England, delayed Armada attack by 12 months, destroyed food barrels, 30 ships destroyed, £114,000 from Azores.
• Spanish Armada - 1588.
• Reasons for the Spanish Armada Victory:

  • Leadership - Lord Howard, Francis Drake, Hawkins and QEl.
  • Resources - English had 2000 cannons, 200 ships, 20,000 men, Spanish lacking due to Raid on Cadiz.
  • The wind and weather - went to head back to Spain round the top of UK but 'Protestant Wind' blew Spanish onto the coast of Scotland and Ireland, other 1000 men killed by weather or inhabitants. Only 80 ships returned to Spain.
  • Spanish plan and tactics - Duke of Parma would meet them at Calais, English catholics turn on QEl.
• Statute of Artificers - 1563 - refusing to pay=prison.
• Vagabonds Act - 1572 - whipped, imprisoned, or killed.
• Poor Relief Act 1576 - enabled poor people employment because of the fall in wool trade.
• Reasons why the Elizabethan era was a period of exploration:

  • Conflict with Spain.
  • New technology in ships and sailing.
  • Expansion of trade.
  • Opportunity to make money.
  • Desire to spread protestantism.
  • Duty to civilise other cultures.
  • Increased experience of sailors
  • New learning and knowledge.
• Drake's circumnavigation of the world - 1577- 1580.
• Advantages of establishing a colony in North America:

  • Attacking Spanish interests.
  • Launch raids.
  • Prevent French and Spanish settlements.
  • Better life for poor English.
  • For resources.
  • Increase its prestige.