Sir Francis Drake & the Americas (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Author
Zoe WadeExpertise
History
How did Sir Francis Drake Affect England and Spain’s Relationship? - Summary
In the 16th century, European countries desired to explore more routes around the world. Improvements in sea navigation meant voyages from Europe could reach Russia, China and the Americas. Many European powers wanted to monopolise their influence in these countries. Some countries attempted to do this through exclusive trade deals with international powers. Other countries, like Spain, established foreign colonies in their vast empire. European countries wanted more territory as this would result in more subjects and wealth. When Elizabeth became queen in 1558, England’s international influence was weak. The government was in debt and England had a low annual income from trade. Elizabeth desired an empire that rivalled Spain’s. Colonies provided access to valuable raw materials like tobacco and sugar. England could trade these with other countries to increase their economic and political power. England’s empire could spread Protestantism across the world. This would reduce the influence of the Spanish Empire and Catholicism. Sir Francis Drake’s exploration and pillaging of the Americas weakened Spain’s influence in the region. In isolation, Drake’s actions would have been an annoyance to Philip II. Elizabeth’s public backing of Drake caused a fracture in Anglo-Spanish relations. Philip did not want England’s power and Protestantism to spread to the Americas, a region Spain dominated. Drake’s actions against Spain would become pivotal in the Spanish Armada in 1588. |
Exam Tip
A common mistake that students make is to confuse Sir Francis Drake with Sir Francis Walsingham. Sir Francis Drake was an explorer and Sir Francis Walsingham was Elizabeth’s spymaster. Remember this alliteration: “Walsingham Watches for Warnings; Drake Discovers Doubloons.” This should remind you of the key differences between the roles that Walsingham and Drake had in Elizabethan England.
Why was England Interested in the Americas?
In the 16th century, England began to explore and trade across the world
England relied upon its sheep farming to produce wool. As a result, England’s main export was cloth
English merchants traded everywhere from the German states to India and Turkey
The Americas became a key part of Spain’s empire
The Italian explorer Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas on a Spanish-sponsored voyage in 1492
By 1536, Spain controlled vast areas of Mexico, Peru, Chile and the Caribbean
Spain disrupted English trade
England relied on trade with the Netherlands
English merchants arrived in Antwerp to distribute English cloth across Europe
The Netherlands became part of the Spanish empire. The Spanish restricted English ships from landing in the Netherlands. This limited England’s ability to trade across Europe
If an English merchant wanted to trade in the Americas, they had to gain a license from Spain. These were rarely given to English traders
England remained interested in the Americas
Mexico and Peru possessed huge reserves of silver
The Caribbean contained crops like tobacco and sugar. These were extremely rare and valuable in European markets
England could limit Spain’s power in Europe if they disrupted Spain’s trade in the Americas
What was a Privateer?
Privateering was increasingly popular in the 16th century
An increasing number of English merchants refused to apply to Spain for trading licences
The merchants traded illegally and attacked Spanish ships and ports
Elizabeth endorsed the use of privateers to disrupt Spanish trade in the Americas
An illustration of the characteristics of an Elizabethan privateer
Exam Tip
Students often confuse a privateer with a pirate. Pirates are criminals. Their actions are crimes because they steal for personal gain of wealth and power. Privateers are not considered criminals. This is because the government or monarch of their country employs them to steal. Privateers pass on the stolen cargo to the government. The monarch may allow the privateer to keep a small portion of what they have stolen.
Who was Sir Francis Drake?
Sir Francis Drake was an ideal privateer for Elizabeth
He was a Puritan, which meant he hated Catholics
He went to sea often as a child. He grew up to become an experienced sailor
Drake’s first voyage was in 1566
Drake's cousin, John Hawkins, hired him. Hawkins made his money in the slave trade
Spanish ships attacked the fleet in 1568. Only two out of the six ships survived the attack. This formed Drake’s lifelong hatred of the Spanish
Elizabeth became aware of Drake’s reputation as an explorer and pirate
Drake had made two successful voyages to the West Indies between 1570 and 1571
Elizabeth hired Drake as a privateer in 1572
Exam Tip
For the exam, it is essential to understand the involvement of the Spanish Empire in the slave trade. In the 16th century, the Spanish Empire was heavily involved in the slave trade. From 1502, the Spanish Empire transported people from the Congo-Angola area of West Africa to the Caribbean.
Historians estimate that the Spanish Empire enslaved over a million Africans in the Americas between the 16th and 17th centuries. The Spanish Empire was the model that all European leaders wished to follow.
In an attempt to become as rich and powerful as Spain, England began to involve itself in the slave trade. In modern times, we condemn the slave trade and the horrors Europeans inflicted upon enslaved Africans.
Drake's Actions in the Americas
From 1572 to 1580, Elizabeth sent Drake on numerous voyages to the Americas
A map showing Drake’s voyages from 1572 to 1580
Drake’s voyage in 1578-80 was very successful for Elizabeth
In 1579, Drake captured the Spanish treasure ship Cacafuego off the coast of Ecuador. Cacafuego contained cargo worth £140,000
Drake plundered a vast amount from the ports in Chile and Peru
As a reward, Elizabeth knighted Drake on his ship, the Golden Hind
What did Sir Francis Drake Discover?
During Drake’s circumnavigation, he claimed a region of northern California for Elizabeth
In June 1579, Drake required an area to dock his fleet
He travelled northwest of Spain’s territory in the Americas
The colony became known as Nova Albion or New Albion. Drake chose this name because:
The area had white cliffs that reminded Drake of the English coastline
‘Albion’ was an old word for Britain
New Albion was important for Elizabethan England
It was England’s first attempt to create a colony in the Americas
It motivated other English explorers to travel to the Americas
Elizabeth wanted to expand her empire to challenge Spain’s domination of the Americas
Worked Example
Describe two features of Drake’s circumnavigation of the world in 1578-80
4 marks
Answers:
One feature of Drake’s circumnavigation of the world was the plundering of Spanish gold (1). Drake returned to England with £400,000, with £140,000 gained from capturing the Spanish treasure ship Cacafuego (1).
Another feature of Drake’s circumnavigation of the world was a new English colony (1). Drake claimed territory in Northern California. He called the region Nova Albion (1).
The significance of Drake on Anglo-Spanish relations
Drake’s action in the Americas impacted England’s relationship with Spain
By 1577, events in the Spanish Netherlands had worsened England’s relationship with Spain
England feared that Spain would invade
Drake's Actions and the Impact on Relations with Spain
Drake’s actions | Spain’s reaction |
The stealing of £400,000 of Spanish treasure | Spain felt angry that the stolen treasure had boosted England’s economy. England could afford to protect itself if Spain planned to invade England |
The claiming of New Albion as a British territory | Spain saw England as a threat to their empire. England may threatened Spanish domination of the Americas by establishing their own colonies |
The circumnavigation of the globe | Spain felt challenged. England had proven its strength as a seafaring country. Spain could not allow England to have a better navy |
The knighting of Drake on board the Golden Hind | Philip II of Spain was angry. Philip saw Drake as nothing more than a pirate. Elizabeth’s public knighting of Drake signified how bad Anglo-Spanish relations had become |
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