Why did Philip II launch the Spanish Armada in 1588, and why did it fail?
The causes of the war with Spain and the reasons Philip II launched the Armada in 1588, the events of the campaign in the Channel, the reasons for the English victory and the Spanish defeat, and the consequences and significance of the Armada.
A focused answer to the Spanish Armada in the Eduqas British study in depth, covering the causes of the war with Spain, why Philip II attacked in 1588, the events in the Channel, the reasons for the English victory and Spanish defeat, and the significance of the campaign.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point covers the great military crisis of the reign in Eduqas's Component 1 British study in depth. You need to explain the causes of the war with Spain and why Philip II launched the Armada in 1588, the events of the campaign in the English Channel, the reasons for the English victory and the Spanish defeat, and the consequences and significance of the outcome. Because the depth study uses source and interpretation questions, learn this well enough to weigh the different reasons for the result.
The causes of the war with Spain
Philip's plan and the campaign
Why England won and Spain lost
Consequences and significance
Try this
Q1. What was Philip's plan for the Armada, and where did it break down? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. The Armada was to sail up the Channel and escort Parma's army from the Netherlands to invade England; it broke down at Calais when English fireships scattered the fleet, and there was no deep-water port to collect Parma's army.
Q2. Explain why the defeat of the Armada was significant for Elizabeth. [Short explanation]
- Cue. It secured her throne against the greatest external threat of the reign, was celebrated as a sign of God's favour, boosted Protestant and national pride, and enhanced her image as a warrior queen, even though the war with Spain continued.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas C100 20194 marksDescribe two features of the Spanish Armada of 1588.Show worked answer →
The depth-study opener (4 marks, two features, 2 marks each). Reward two distinct, developed features.
Feature one. The Armada was a fleet of around 130 Spanish ships sent by Philip II to sail up the Channel, collect the Duke of Parma's army from the Netherlands, and invade England to overthrow Elizabeth.
Feature two. The Spanish ships sailed in a tight crescent (defensive) formation to protect the slower transport vessels, which made them hard to attack directly but slow to manoeuvre.
Top marks. Two separate features, each with a precise supporting detail.
Eduqas C100 20218 marksExplain why the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588.Show worked answer →
The depth-study "explain why" question (8 marks, AO1 and AO2). Reward a developed analysis of two or three reasons, each with precise support.
Reason one. English tactics and ships were better suited to the battle: faster, more manoeuvrable galleons with longer-range guns could fire from a distance, and the fireships sent into Calais on 7 August broke the Spanish crescent and scattered the fleet.
Reason two. The Spanish plan was flawed: there was no deep-water port to collect Parma's army, communications were poor, and the fleet was forced into the open sea where it could not regroup.
Reason three. The weather finished the job: strong "Protestant wind" storms drove the broken Armada north around Scotland and Ireland, where many ships were wrecked, so weather and bad luck compounded the Spanish failure.
Top band. Connect each reason explicitly to the defeat, and finish with the most important factor.
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Sources & how we know this
- WJEC Eduqas GCSE History (C100) specification — WJEC Eduqas (2016)