5 REASONS FOR ENGLISH EXPLORATION
A. ECONOMICS: LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY
1. Mercantilism: an economic system in which the nation increases their wealth and power by obtaining gold
and silver and establishing a favorable balance of trade
EXAMPLE: colony sells raw materials cheap yet buys manufactured goods high
2. New Merchant class: wanted to get rich through overseas trade
3. Middle/Lower class: wanted a better life-could not afford to live in England
4. Unemployed farmers: wanted to own land
B. SOCIAL
1. Workers/Farmers: wanted to move up the social ladder.
2. English leaders: colonies were a safety valve- way to get rid of certain people!!
example: Religious problems and criminals.
C. POLITICAL
KINGS RULED BY DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS
D. RELIGIOUS
dominant religion- Roman Catholic
PROTESTANT REFORMATION: - Protest/Reform the Catholic Church
3 MAJOR FIGURES:
1. Martin Luther
2. John Calvin
3. King Henry VIII
1. MARTIN LUTHER (1517)
• Catholic monk who wanted to reform the Catholic church- posted 95 thesis that criticized their practices
• EFFECT: split church: - CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT
2. JOHN CALVIN (1530s)
• Predestination (CALVINISM)
belief that God has chosen to send certain people to heaven and the remainder to hell.
-Decision is said to take place before the universe was created and is purely random.
3. KING HENRY VIII (1534) ENGLAND
• Split with the Catholic church and developed his own church: ANGLICAN CHURCH
People supported the King:
a. Catholic Church taxed the citizens
b. Owned 1/3rd of England
E. RIVALRY WITH SPAIN
• a. Spanish colonies were very successful in bringing wealth and pride to Spain
• b. Religious issues (Catholic vs. Protestant)
BRITISH PLAN!!
• English “Sea Dogs” attacked Spanish ships and ports stealing their gold and silver and returning to
England
• Sir Francis Drake (most successful)
attacked Spanish for 3 years
SPANISH REVENGE 1588
• Spanish King Phillip II sent the Spanish Armada (most powerful navy in the world) to conquer England.
• Fought battle in the English channel, smaller faster English ships defeated the Armada
• Armada was really hurt by a strong storm
• Only 67 out of 130 ships made it back to Spain
• DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA
EFFECT
• a. England would remain independent and Protestant
• b. Spain’s image was tarnished- they could be defeated
•
c. Opened up seas for England- leading to colonization