History

LO: To learn about the Spanish Armada

Famous Explorers

• Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596) was born in 1540 in Devon, England.

• Drake was the first Englishman to sail around the world between 1577 and 1580.

• As a sailor, Drake's successful battles against the Spanish helped England become very powerful.

•  The Spanish had conquered much of central and South America by 1550.

• Their ships carried back large amounts of gold and silver to Spain.

• Drake’s ships used to attack these treasure ships and steal their goods.

• Drake's ships captured a huge amount of gold and silver on their trip around the world. When he returned home in 1580 he was knighted.

The Armada

• Philip II of Spain was angry that Queen Elizabeth had not punished Sir Francis Drake for attacking Spanish ships and got together a huge fleet of ships and sent it to fight against the English.

• A huge fleet, or armada of 130 ships was to sail up the English Channel to the Netherlands. It would be joined by an army of 30,000 men and take them to the English coast. Where they would land and invade England returning it to the Catholic religion.

Countdown To Invasion…

21st July 1588

• The Spanish Armada sets sail for England…

The Attack• The Armada left Lisbon in May 1588, but ran into a storm and lost

supplies. • The English fleet, led by Lord Howard and Sir Francis Drake,

attacked the Armada on 21 July near Plymouth. • The armada tried to escape but knew they were trapped and

decided to stop near Calais harbour. • That night Drake and Howard sent eight fire-ships towards Calais

harbour. The Spaniards were afraid and cut their anchor ropes and fled out to sea.

• When the battle began the Spaniards were already beginning to lose.

• The English destroyed four Spanish ships and damaged many more. The spaniards were beaten but their only way home was to sail right round the north of Scotland and into the Atlantic Ocean. Just 60 ships made it back to Spain.

• Armada left Lisbon in May 1588

• English fleet attacked armada near Plymouth

• The armada were trapped and stopped near Calais harbour

• That night Drake and Howard sent eight fire-ships towards Calais harbour. The Spaniards were afraid and fled out to sea.

• The English destroyed four Spanish ships and damaged many more.

• The spaniards were beaten but their only way home was to sail right round the north of Scotland and into the Atlantic Ocean. Just 60 ships made it back to Spain.

Why is the 1588 battle with the Spanish Armada so famous?

• The Armada is famous because at that time England was a small nation with a little navy and they were facing the greatest power in the world (Spain).  They defeated Spain, with help from a storm.

• It marked the beginning of England's mastery of the seas.  The great history of the English navy began, as did serious English exploration and colonization.