Elizabethan England Topic Summaries

Reasons for conflict

GCSE > History > Edexcel > GCSE History: Elizabethan England (1558-1603) > Conflict with Spain > Reasons for conflict
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Key terms
  • At the start of Elizabeth I’s reign in 1558, England and Spain were officially at peace. Philip II of Spain had been married to Mary I, so relations were initially stable.
  • Religious rivalry: tensions increased as England became more firmly Protestant and Spain remained the leading Catholic power in Europe. Philip II believed it was his duty to restore Catholicism in England. Elizabeth’s excommunication in 1570 encouraged Catholic resistance and foreign intervention.
  • Political rivalry: Spain sought to dominate Europe and the Americas. In particular, Spain ruled the Netherlands, but there were Protestant uprisings and anti-Catholic riots. In 1585, Elizabeth openly sent 7,000 troops, led by Robert Dudley, to support the Protestants and protect their Dutch trade partnerships – a gesture Spain viewed as an act of war.
  • Commercial rivalry: Spain controlled large parts of the Americas and grew rich from silver and gold. England’s privateers and explorers threatened Spanish trade and colonies in pursuit of this wealth. Elizabeth allowed sailors like Francis Drake to raid Spanish ships in acts of legal piracy that weakened Spain and enriched England.

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