Foreign Policy For Elizabeth I, the pressures of ruling England influenced much of her foreign policy. These pressures came from a lack of resources (England was far less wealthy and had a smaller population than France or Spain) and England’s religious divisions. Elizabeth’s foreign policy aims can be summarised as: 1. Develop and improve trade to help the English economy. 2. Protect English boarders. 3. Protect the English throne. 4. Avoid war, which cost a lot of money and could lead to Elizabeth being overturned Task: Highlight the key features of Elizabeth’s aims and identify key themes. The first has been done for you Theme= IMPROVE TRADE Theme= Theme= 1. During Elizabeth’s reign, English 2. Like Henry VIII, Elizabeth wished to 3. Spices could be obtained through merchants began to explore new follow and actually followed a Policy of Middle-Eastern middlemen, but they markets and trading partners. They remaining aloof from the wars. There were charged a massive mark-up that made went to Hamburg, Russia, China, reasons for it. To begin with, the treasury the spices very expensive. Europeans India and the New World (the was more or less empty Secondly; England therefore wanted to establish a direct America’s discovered in 1492). was facing shortage of war materials and sea-route to the Far East so that they However, English merchants faced equipment also. Thirdly, Elizabeth wanted could buy directly from China, India, and problems in developing trade. Spain to establish her power firmly on the throne the East Indies. In 1600 The East India controlled the Netherlands, of England and did not wish to waste her Company was founded. Its main object England's main route into European energies in wars with other countries. Her was to contest Spanish and Portuguese markets. Antwerp port in the chief motive in the foreign sphere was that control of the spice trade, by trading Netherlands was particularly England should remain a free and directly with the East Indies important to British trade. independent nation. She did not like the (modern-day India and Indonesia). idea that England should be under influence of the pope in Rome or any other foreign power. Theme: Theme: Theme: 4. Elizabeth was also eager to ensure that 5. Elizabeth was determined to see her foreign 6. During the 1570s and early 1580s, the neither France nor Spain controlled the policy succeed and with that end in view she did possibility was mooted of an alliance with entire coastline facing England, for the not marry. Though the Parliament expressed its France based on the marriage of Elizabeth I to threats of military invasion and of trade wish and Prayer that she should marry and give Francis, Duke of Anjou. However, the French isolation were far greater if one power an heir to the British throne, Elizabeth was more a match was intensely unpopular amongst the controlled the Channel Coast. At same diplomat than a woman. By remaining unmarried English political nation, who’s anti-French and times Elizabeth feared that the French she saved England from many likely troubles. She anti-Catholic sentiments it outraged. E would ally with the Dutch rebels and knew it full well that if she married a Roman control the whole coast; at other times it Catholic, the protestant would resent it. If, on the seemed possible that Spain might defeat other hand, she married a protestant, the both the French and Dutch. Catholics would seriously dislike it. Theme: Theme: Theme: 7. In the 1500s, the nations of Europe 8. Spain claimed much of the New World 9. Francis Drake was an English merchant were rivals. Thy competed for more (Americas including Florida, Mexico and Peru). who made his name and fortune trading in territories and power. More land meant The profits to be made here where enormous. the new world. He also made huge sums of more people, wealth and power. This There were valuable crops such as sugar and money for people who invested in his voyages rivalry often led to a foreign policy which tobacco and huge supplies of silver. However, to including Elizabeth I. However, much of what caused a war. Religion was another trade there you needed a license from Spain. he did could be considered piracy. source of conflict. Many English men ignored there regulations and traded there illegally. Some attacked Spanish ports and shipping. This could not be ignored by Philip II and Spain. Relationship with Spain- Read through the information- use this to answer the question. • The steady decline in relations between England and Spain after 1558 makes it tempting to see a certain inevitability in the hostilities that broke out in 1585 and dominated the last years of Philip's and Elizabeth's lives. • Yet it was not a conflict that either of them sought and war was never formally declared. The drift into war meant that a number of fluctuating issues and pressures became involved and assigning precise causes is not easy. Why did relations decline? Trade • Both countries wanted more land and resources throughout the world. • Whilst Spain has tried to dominate the control of America, Francis Drake’s expeditions has prevented this and strengthened the British position there. This was done without Spanish permission, which angered Phillip II. • Due to tightening of control from Spain in the Netherlands, trade had decreased. Elizabeth’s explorers also travelled further to Russia and India. Religion • Phillip II was a strong Catholic and Elizabeth a devout Protestant. The two leaders did not want the influence of the other religion to spread throughout Europe. • Spain was involved in the plots to overthrown Elizabeth and replace her with her cousin Mary, who was a strong Catholic. • Phillip strongly opposed Elizabeth’s religious settlement in England. Why did relations decline? Politics • Phillip II was ruler of the most powerful country in the world, and he also had rule over the Netherlands as well as being King of Portugal. • He also had land in the New World (America) which gained him a lot of money from the treasure there. This meant he was able to support and pay for a strong army. • Elizabeth was threatened by this as she was worried Phillip might try to take her throne, or replace her with her cousin Mary. The Netherlands • The English Channel was vitally important to both Elizabeth and Phillip for trade and security. • Phillip owned the Netherlands, which had strengthened his position in Europe. However, the Dutch rebelled in 1572 against their rule. • The Dutch asked for help from fellow Protestant Elizabeth and, although reluctant at first, she increasing became involved in helping to defend the Dutch Revolt. • When the Spanish army began to suffer, she persuaded the French to help as well as sending £100,000 to the Dutch. Task – Read the information above and answer the question below: What was the most important reason for the decline in Anglo-Spanish relations and why? Francis Drake • On 13th December 1577, Sir Francis Drake finally left Plymouth with his fleet of five ships on a journey which would see him circumnavigating the Globe. • Storm damage to two of his ships had scuppered earlier plans. The purpose of this journey was to sail into the Pacific and raid the Spanish colonies there. It was a secret mission authorised by Queen Elizabeth I and investors of Drake’s mission included the Queen, Sir Francis Walsingham, William and George Wynter, Christopher Hatton and John Hawkins. • Only one ship, “The Pelican”, made it safely to the Pacific, arriving there in October 1578. As a tribute to its success it was renamed “The Golden Hind”, after Sir Christopher Hatton’s coat of arms. Drake the sailed along South America’s Pacific coast, plundering towns and Spanish ports, and capturing Spanish ships laden with gold, silver and jewels. • This all took place before June 1579. In June 1579, Drake landed just north of Point Loma (present day San Diego, California), which was Spain’s northernmost holding in the Americas. He claimed it for England in the name of the Holy Trinity and called it Nova Albion, “New Britain”. He then turned south and made his way back home, arriving in England in September 1580. He was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the Globe. Drakes Circumnavigation of the world • Drakes voyages of 1568 and 1572 left him with a hatred of Catholic Spain and a desire to inflict further damage on its empire • He wanted to: • Revenge for previous attacks by attacking Central America. • Capture Spanish gold, silver and other treasure to pay his own wages as well as his workers. Some of this money would also go to Queen Elizabeth. • He wanted to weaken the Catholic power in Europe to make England more secure from attack. • He wanted to claim new land for Queen Elizabeth to make England more powerful. • He also wanted to establish better trade routes and find new markets where England could sell goods. Drake’s Ships • Drake’s ship was an 80 ton vessel called the Golden Hind. He also sailed with 4 other ships: The Elizabeth, The Marigold, The Swan and The Christopher. He had a crew of 164 sailors and tons of supplies. Why was Drake’s circumnavigation significant? 1. England was now considered a great sea-faring nation 2. The Spanish were threatened by the success of the English 3. Drake shared his experience with other sailors 4. He brought back £500,000,000 worth of treasure and goods 5. Drake was welcomed by the native Americans, which encouraged other Europeans to travel and settle there 6.