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Causes of war with Spain : (Religion (Netherlands (1584 it all falls apart…
Causes of war with Spain :
Religion
Phillip II of Spain viewed protestantism as a threat to the authority of the catholic church
Because of this he started plotting against the protestant Elizabeth.
Many English Protestants thought Catholicism in Spain was a threat to them
Netherlands
The Netherlands had been Spanish since 1400 however lots of dutch people were turning protestant.
The Duke of Alba brutally tried to restore Catholicism executing lots of Dutch protestants.
This Angered Elizabeth who now saw Spain as a direct threat to English protestants and therefore a Hostile relationship developed
They started to secretly help Holland by allowing rebel ships safe passage, providing financial support to John Casimir (a mercenary who ran a group of volunteers) and English pirates where persuaded to attack Spanish ports.
In 1576 the Spanish government found fighting for the Netherlands unaffordable so couldn't afford to pay the soldiers causing the 'Spanish Fury"
Soldiers looted Antwerp
After the looting all 17 provinces expelled Spanish troops.
This created the 'Pacification of Ghent"
1584 it all falls apart
Spanish control of the Netherlands is restored by the duke of Parma
The Duke of Alecon and William of Orange are dead. They were both Englands allies.
The Treaty of Joinville is created joining Catholic France and Spain against the Netherlands and England
Dutch Catholics are ready to make peace with Phillip
By 1587 England and Spain are very close to war. Phillip blames England for supporting the dutch and attacking Spanish ships. Elizabeth blames Spain for plotting against Elizabeth.
Commercial Rivalry
By 1570 Spain and England are trade rivals. They both competed for resources across most continents. Spain conquered Mexico and Peru giving them vast amounts of gold, sugar cane and tobacco. This gave them a lot of financial power. Because of this British sailors such as Drake where sailing vast distances on trading voyages
Because of their rivalry there was a lot of hostility. This meant Spain blocked trade routes, reducing profits of english merchants as well as denying them trade opportunities as most had to be licensed by the Spanish government.
Because of this English merchants financed by private investors, including Elizabeth herself, raided lots of Spanish colonies.
In one raid by Sir Francis Drake they captured £400000 of Spanish silver
Drake also captured another £400000 of silver during his circumnavigation between 1577 and 1580
This meant by 1580 Spanish government is Netherlands went bankrupt due to all the silver they were losing
By the early 1580s the English privateers had brought them near to war.
Elizabeth then showed how she didn't care by knighting Drake.
Phillip viewed drake as a lowly Pirate.
Drake's attack on Cadiz
Since 1586 Phillip had been building the Armada.
Elizabeth orders Drake to attack Cadiz, where the Armada was held in 1587 causing 30 ships to be destroyed from the 19th of April to the 22nd.
This was called 'Singeing the King of Spain's beard'
Drakes attacks were so bad for them they had to take a break from building up the armada to defend itself.
It delayed the armada by a year
Which gave England more time to get ready for the eventual attack in 1588