The Spanish Armada was defeated in 1558 due to a combination of factors: 1) English ships were smaller but better built, manned, and equipped with artillery which gave them an advantage. 2) Harsh weather scattered the Spanish fleet and drove many ships onto rocks near Ireland. 3) Mistakes by the Spanish, including panicking when the English sent fireships toward them and losing formation in the open sea, made their ships vulnerable.

1. Objectives
Key Words
1.Describe the poor relationship
Privateers
between England and Spain
Drake
Knighthood
2.Explain reasons for this
Protestantism

2. Henry VIII had died in 1547 leaving the throne of
England to his 3 children:
Edward, Mary then Elizabeth.

3. DIED 1553
QUEEN IN 1558
DIED 1558

4. Why might
two
countries
be angry
with each
other!?!

5. Using the information sheet with various
different pieces of information try to
come up with at least 3 reasons that the
Spanish and English are angry with one
another.
Looking at your reasons EXPLAIN why
this might make another country angry
enough to want war.

6. Using your information sheet fill in the gaps to
summarise why the Spanish and English are angry with
one another in 1558...........

7. England became richer under Elizabeth and in 1568 she used money to increase the size of the
navy. The new ships that were built were faster than before.
At the end of the year the English navy seized a treasure ship, which was controlled by Spain.
Philip II of Spain was very cross and relations between England and Spain worsened. Philip was
also annoyed that Elizabeth had restored Protestantism in England. His anger with England
increased further after Elizabeth knighted Francis Drake.
The countries of Europe had an agreement that there would be free trade between them,
Drake, however, traded on his own and Philip saw Elizabeth's knighthood of him as an insult to
their agreement and began to prepare for war. Elizabeth provided Drake with a navy of 25 ships
and told him to harass Spanish ships.
The English sailor was took Spanish possessions from Colombia and Florida. Philip retaliated by
seizing all English ships in Spanish ports.
When Elizabeth ordered the execution of Catholic Mary Queen of Scots in 1587, Philip increased
the numbers of ships bound for England and planned an invasion force. Once again his plans
were upset by Drake who managed to enter Spanish waters and burn large numbers of the
ships bound for England.

8. Write a letter from Spain to England telling Elizabeth I why you are
angry.
Remember to use language that shows you are not happy and try to
include at least 3 different facts you have learnt in class today.

9. England became............... under Elizabeth and in ..........she used money to increase the size of the ..............
The new ships that were built were ................ than before.
At the end of the year the English navy seized a ...........................ship, which was controlled by ................
Philip II of Spain was very cross and relations between England and Spain ............................ Philip was also
annoyed that Elizabeth had restored ................................in England. His anger with England increased
further after Elizabeth knighted Francis .................
The countries of Europe had an agreement that there would be free .............between them, Drake,
however, traded on his own and ................. saw Elizabeth's knighthood of him as an insult to their
agreement and began to prepare for ............ Elizabeth provided Drake with a navy of ........ ships and told
him to harass ...................... ships.
The English sailor was took Spanish possessions from Colombia and Florida. Philip retaliated by seizing
all .....................ships in Spanish ports.
When Elizabeth ordered the ......................... of Catholic Mary Queen of Scots in 1587, Philip increased the
numbers of ships bound for ...................... and planned an invasion force. Once again his plans were upset
by Drake who managed to enter Spanish waters and ..................large numbers of the ships bound for
England.
richer Protestantis 25 faster Spanish worsened
m
war treasure 1568 trade Navy execution

10. I am Elizabeth I, Queen of England. My mother
Anne Boleyn was a Protestant Queen and my father
started the Church of England, a proud and
peaceful faith. Not like corrupt Catholics who
murder and steal in the name of God. I will not
stand for any threat to my rule, that is why I had my
Catholic Cousin executed, she was plotting to take
my throne.
As for the seas, we are an Island, a powerful nation
with the largest Navy in the world and the most
impressive ships, if my Privateers plunder and steal
they are only taking from pirates. Francis Drake is
loyal noble and an excellent Captain, I am proud to
offer him a knighthood in honour of his service to
this great nation.

11. I am Phillip, King of Spain. We are a great Catholic
nation and serve God and the Pope loyally, unlike
that heretic Elizabeth. Mary, Queen of the Scots is
the true Queen of England, I would like to see her
on the throne.
Elizabeth turned down my marriage proposal, we
could have combined our two empires and ruled
the oceans, instead she insults us by building such a
large navy which is clearly intended to rob our
Spanish Galleons of their treasures.
Elizabeth insults my intelligence by Knighting
Francis Drake, I know it is him stealing from our
ships in the name of his country. We had an
agreement to trade fairly they are not honouring
this!

12. Objectives
Key Words
1.Describe the events of 1558
Navy
2.Explain why the Spanish were
Armada
defeated
3.Analyse key reasons for victory

13. The events are all in a muddle! To
work out how to beat the Armada we
need you to put them back into the
correct order.....
Using the information sheet write out
the correct order of events into your
book, then number them.
WHEN you have done this collect a
blank map and create a map showing
the route taken by the Spanish,
highlight important places and key
events on your map.

14. Looking at the evidence below and then write out a sentence explaining
each reason for the defeat of the armada.
‘the Spanish fleet was
‘I sent you to ‘Though the English ships were conquered for the first time.
fight with men smaller and fewer than those But not by men, nor by the
not the weather’ opposed to them, they were ships... It was defeated by
better built and better manned... the weather... Only against
PHILLIP II Their skilful use of artillery gave the hurricane and the gales
TALKING TO them a great advantage’ did we lose’
SURVIVORS
A HISTORY OF ENGLAND 1920 THE GLORIOUS SPANISH
ARMADA 1940
‘God blew with
his wind and they
were scattered’
Weather Design of English Ships
ON THE ARMADA
MEDAL ISSUED BY Spanish Mistakes English weapons and
ELIZABETH I tactics

15. Using the same reasons put them in priority order. This means at
the top should be the reason you think MOST likely caused the
defeat of the Spanish and then at the bottom the reason you think
LEAST likely caused the defeat of the Spanish.
EXPLAIN your reasons underneath
Weather Design of English Ships
Spanish Mistakes English weapons and tactics

16. Create a newspaper article on the defeat of the Spanish Armada....
You MUST
1)Have a catchy headline
2)Use a newspaper layout
3)Include facts about the defeat of the Armada
4)Use images
5)Write at least 1 A4 page
You CAN
1)Write it from either an English or Spanish perspective
2)Use computer if you wish

17. On August 6th 1588, the Spanish Armada anchored at Calais. The English filled
eighty ships with flammable material and set fire to them. The ships were allowed to
sail towards the Spanish ships.
The Spanish panicked and fled to the open sea. In the open sea, the Armada wasn’t in
formation, so the Spanish ships were easy targets for the English artillery. The Spanish tried to
sail close to the English ships so their soldiers could board them. However the English ships were
too quick and could easily keep their distance. Many Spanish galleons were sunk. The survivors
fled north, determined to round Scotland and sail back to Spain.
The Armada successfully sailed round Scotland. However, as it continued on south towards
Spain it encountered terrible weather. Strong winds and terrible rain forced many ships onto
rocks near Ireland. Some Spanish made it ashore, only to be killed by English soldiers and
settlers. Over 25,000 men set out on the Spanish Armada - determined to teach Elizabeth I a
lesson. Less than 10,000 made it back to Spain safely.