in 1588 spain's naval armada was destroyed trying to invade

On the other hand, Spain wanted to force the English back into the Catholic fold and end the English pirates' attacks on their ships and colonies in the Americas.Įlizabeth, I had encouraged English privateers, such as Sir Francis Drake, to mount attacks on Spanish targets. However, Elizabeth I's coronation had fundamentally altered this dynamic because she was determined to maintain England's independence from Spain. The Spanish King had been married to Mary I of England, and it seemed that England would fall under Spanish influence for a time. Second, he hoped to expand the growing power of Spain. First, he wanted to return all Protestants to the Catholic faith. The Spanish King Phillip II was an ardent Catholic, and he had two primary ambitions. Spain's influence reaches stretched across Europe and into the Americas. However, Elizabeth soon found herself under pressure from Spain - the preeminent Catholic power in the world. Contrary to popular belief, Catholicism had been popular in England before the Reformation, and many people still sympathized with what they called the ‘old religion.’ Queen Elizabeth the First initially pursued a moderate religious policy to minimize religious conflict between Catholic and Protestant. England had become an increasing Protestant state in the mid-sixteenth century. Protestants' regimes dominated northern Europe, and the south was mainly Catholic. King Phillip II of Spain-mortal enemy of Elizabeth IIn the sixteenth century, Europe was divided into two mutually hostile religious groups.

In 1588 spain's naval armada was destroyed trying to invade