What the Armada Reveals About Elizabethan England Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

PERSONALISED 1-TO-1 TUTORING

Get support with clear explanations, practice and feedback (Ages 5 to 16).

Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to remove ads

What does the defeat of the Spanish Armada show about the strength of the English navy?

It shows that England had fast, well-armed ships and skilled sailors, able to outmanoeuvre and damage the larger Spanish fleet.

It shows she could inspire people, for example with her Tilbury speech, and that she trusted strong advisers to help plan the defence.

It shows that religion was central, as the war was seen as a Protestant England defending itself against Catholic Spain.

Many people saw the win as a sign that God favoured Protestant England, which helped build pride and a strong sense of nation.

It shows England was poorer than Spain and had a smaller navy, so it relied on careful spending, private ships and good tactics.

It shows privateers were important, as they attacked Spanish ships, brought in treasure and were used as experienced naval leaders.

It shows that the government could organise beacons, local militias and the navy, and could pass messages quickly across the country.

It shows people feared invasion and Catholic plots, so they built coastal defences and trained soldiers ready to fight on the beaches.

It shows England used newer, smaller, race-built galleons with long-range guns, which worked better than Spain’s heavier, older-style ships.

It shows that England was becoming a major sea power and could successfully challenge Spain, the strongest Catholic country in Europe.

It shows that Elizabeth’s government used paintings, medals and sermons to present the victory as a great triumph and to praise the Queen.

It shows that Elizabeth needed local nobles and gentry to raise men, supply ships and organise defences in their own counties.