Lesson 3

3 Outbreak of war with Spain, 1585–88 Quiz: Pearson Edexcel History, Unit 8

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3, Outbreak of war with Spain, 1585–88: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0), Unit 8: Early Elizabethan England, 1558–88, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Who led the English army sent to the Netherlands under the Treaty of Nonsuch?

    • Earl of Leicester
    • Lord Howard
    • Sir Francis Drake
    • Walter Raleigh

  2. Which English commander was sent to lead forces in the Netherlands in 1585?

    • William Cecil
    • John Hawkins
    • Francis Walsingham
    • Robert Dudley

  3. What was the main weakness of Leicester's military campaign in the Netherlands?

    • Poor leadership
    • Naval blockade
    • Spanish betrayal
    • Lack of weapons

  4. What famous phrase did Drake use to describe his 1587 raid on Cadiz?

    • Plundering Philip
    • Singeing the beard
    • Spanish downfall
    • Burning the fleet

  5. What was the primary strategic impact of Drake's 1587 raid on Cadiz?

    • Delayed the Armada
    • Captured Madrid
    • Bankrupted Spain
    • Ended the war

  6. Which 1587 event directly increased Philip II's determination to invade England?

    • Dutch alliance
    • Cadiz raid
    • Mary's execution
    • Treaty signed

  7. What direct military support did England provide the Dutch rebels between 1585 and 1588?

    • Secret weapons
    • Naval blockade
    • Financial loans
    • Sending troops

  8. Which aggressive English policy heavily provoked Spain in the lead-up to 1585?

    • Colonial treaties
    • Direct annexation
    • Privateering attacks
    • Pirate blockades

  9. Why did the Anglo-Spanish war continue for a long time without resolution?

    • Indecisive victories
    • Frequent treaties
    • Constant allies
    • Shared borders

  10. What major military operation did Philip II plan following Mary Queen of Scots' execution?

    • Assassination plot
    • Naval blockade
    • Invasion of England
    • Irish rebellion

  11. Which event acted as the final catalyst for the outbreak of war in 1585?

    • Treaty of Nonsuch
    • Cadiz raid
    • Spanish Armada
    • Babington Plot

  12. What major impact did Drake's privateering have on Spain during the 1580s?

    • Bankrupted crown
    • Damaged shipping
    • Destroyed Lisbon
    • Ended colonisation

  13. Who served as the commander-in-chief of the English fleet in 1588?

    • Earl of Essex
    • Sir Walter Raleigh
    • John Hawkins
    • Lord Howard

  14. What was Walter Raleigh's main overseas venture during the 1580s?

    • African slavery
    • Dutch trade
    • American colonisation
    • Asian spices

  15. How did the outbreak of war with Spain immediately affect English crown finances?

    • Increased taxes
    • Increased costs
    • Boosted trade
    • Eliminated debt

  16. Why did Elizabeth initially delay open war with Spain?

    • Papal orders
    • Naval weakness
    • French alliances
    • Financial cost

  17. What did Philip II view as a direct threat to Catholicism?

    • Dutch trade
    • Scottish lords
    • Irish rebels
    • England's government

  18. Which key event immediately preceded the launching of the Spanish Armada in 1588?

    • Revolt of Northern Earls
    • Treaty of Nonsuch
    • St Bartholomew's Day
    • Execution of Mary

  19. What did Philip II need from the Spanish Netherlands for his invasion?

    • Mercenary navy
    • Extra galleons
    • Silver mines
    • An army

  20. What was a key design feature of English warships before 1588?

    • Thick wooden armour
    • Triple rowing banks
    • Heavy boarding bridges
    • Speed and manoeuvrability

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