Sea Warfare and Privateering Against Spain Flashcards

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What is a privateer?

A privateer is a sailor who has the queen’s permission to attack enemy ships and take their cargo.

Why did Elizabeth I use privateers instead of sending her navy to fight Spain openly?

It let her hurt Spain and gain treasure without open war. She also took a share of the profit.

What name was given to Elizabeth I’s leading privateers, such as Francis Drake and John Hawkins?

They were called the English “sea dogs”.

What was the main target of English privateers in the Atlantic and Caribbean?

They mainly attacked Spanish treasure ships carrying silver and gold from the Americas.

How did privateering help Elizabeth’s government?

It brought money to England, gave sailors battle practice, and damaged Spain’s trade and wealth.

What did Francis Drake do on his voyage of 1577–1580?

He sailed around the world, raided Spanish ports and ships, and came home with a lot of treasure.

What was Drake’s 1587 attack on Cadiz nicknamed, and why?

It was called “singeing the King of Spain’s beard” because Drake burned Spanish ships in Cadiz harbour and delayed Spain’s war plans.

How did English warships differ from Spanish ships by the 1580s?

English ships were smaller and faster and used good long‑range guns. Spanish ships were larger and built more for close fighting and boarding.

What was a letter of marque in Elizabethan sea warfare?

A letter of marque was a licence from the queen that made private attacks on enemy ships legal.

How did privateering increase tension between England and Spain?

Philip II saw English privateering as theft and an insult, and this anger helped to push Spain towards war with England.