Year 8 - History
Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada
Elizabeth I: why has Elizabeth been represented so differently?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about Elizabeth I's reign before examining some popular depictions of her. They build knowledge about her religious, domestic, and foreign policies before considering why she has been represented so differently.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to recall the reasons for the Spanish Armada and explain how it was defeated.
Key Notes
- English privateers had been raiding Spanish ships in the Atlantic and stealing their gold.
- England supported Dutch Protestant rebels in the Netherlands against the Spanish.
- The Spanish King, Philip II, wished to make England Catholic.
- The Spanish Armada in 1588 was a Spanish attempt to invade England.
- Elizabeth I used the victory over the Spanish in propaganda.
Vocabulary To Learn
- alliance: an alliance is a connection or friendship between different countries
- privateer: a privateer is a person or armed ship allowed by a government to attack and steal from other ships at sea
- fleet: a fleet is a group of ships sailing together
- navy: the navy is the branch of the armed forces which operates at sea
- Spanish Armada: the Spanish Armada was a large group of warships
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The English navy destroyed the Spanish Armada.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
English privateers had been raiding Spanish ships in the Atlantic and stealing their gold. England supported Dutch Protestant rebels in the Netherlands against the Spanish.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'alliance'
an alliance is a connection or friendship between different countries.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: The English navy destroyed the Spanish Armada. Correction: Most of the ships lost from the Spanish Armada were sunk in storms after the battle against the English navy.
More Lessons In This Unit
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