Historic Environment: The Americas and Drake’s Circumnavigation,

1577-80
Causes and Events

Do Now: what do you remember about Francis

Drake and his circumnavigation?
Students will be expected to answer a question that draws on second order concepts of change, continuity,
causation and/or consequence, and to explore them in the context of the specified site and wider events
and developments of the period studied. Students should be able to identify key features of the specified site
and understand their connection to the wider historical context of the specific historical period. Sites will also
illuminate how people lived at the time, how they were governed and their beliefs and values.

1. LOCATION - where? Maps? 2024 site: Drake’s circumnavigation

2. PEOPLE connected with the site - who? • His plans
3. DESIGN – the plan, why - motives? • The voyage there and back
4. EVENTS /DEVELOPMENTS – when? • Activities in the Americas
• 1519-22 Magellan had gone before
• 1534 The Reformation means England becomes potential enemy of Spain
• 1562 Hawkins First voyage to West African Coast in Sierra Leone stole 300 enslaved people took them to Caribbean and traded
them for leather, ginger, pearls, sugar.
• 1564 Hawkins second voyage took a larger fleet Drake may well have accompanied him. Hawkins raided the West African coast took
400 African captives and traded them in the Caribbean.
• 1566 Hawkins third voyage let by John Lovell and Drake accompanied. In total Hawkins enslaved between 1,200-1,400 Africans
• 1568 San Juan de Ulua. Here Drake and Hawkins who were leading a 7 vessel slaving voyage (2 provided by The Queen) were
attacked by the Spanish and only 2 ships escaped. The English had taken shelter following a storm after selling some of their
captives, Drake and Hawkins wanted revenge for this attack. There was now a deterioration in Anglo-Spanish relations. From this
point the English switched to raiding Spanish colonies and piracy.
• 1572 Drake set off to attack Panama.
• 1572 He knew Spanish treasure ships left the port of Nombre de Dios en route to Seville and so he raided the town and ships
seizing tons of gold. Drake teamed up with Diego an African who had been enslaved by the Spanish his local connections and
knowledge proved invaluable. Diego helped Drake work with Cimarrons who were enslaved African people who had escaped from
their Spanish captors and were working independently they were excellent fighters and scouts.
• 1573 August Drake and Diego return to England
• 1576 Martin Frobisher claimed to have found the Strait of Anian a North West Sea passage to link the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean,
Drake wanted to investigate this claim
• 1577-80 Secret expedition to the Pacific coast of the Americas would inevitably bring Drake into conflict with Spain and due to
delicate nature of relations initially this was secret. Backed by Queen and leading Privy Councillors. The Pelican led later renamed
Golden Hind after Hatton a backer plus Elizabeth, Marigold, Benedict and Swan. Drake captured a Spanish Vessel, Christopher
and gave it to the crew of the Benedict to go home in. Voyage no Strait of Anian found but Drakes Passage (still named) between
Cape Horn and Antarctica.
• 1577 15th Nov set sail but false start due to storms
• 1577 13th Dec 5 ships set sail Drake captured Santa Maria which he renamed Mary and used charts (rutters) tools
(astrolabes) and captain Nuno da Silva with considerable knowledge. Hazardous journey across the Atlantic, fleet
scattered.
• 1578 May fleet reassembled, damaged assessed, Swan had sunk and Christopher was abandoned.
• 1578 July Thomas Doughty executed for questioning Drake’s authority
• 1578 August Golden Hind, Marigold and Elizabeth pass through Strait of Magellan and into Pacific. Mary abandoned
too. Storms blew the vessels south. Drake’s passage was discovered but the Marigold and all crew lost. The Elizabeth
led by Captain John Wynter fearing mutiny returned home too.
• 1578 Sailing north along the Pacific Coast with only the Golden Hind Drake now attacked ports and towns and
captured Spanish ships at Valparaiso along with their more accurate navigation charts.
• 1579 March captured Nuestra Senora de la Conception (Caca Fuego) worth £480 million
• 1579 Maria’s Story – Drake’s treatment of enslaved woman Maria taken from a Spanish ship in April resulted in her
abuse by crew members and abandonment heavily pregnant in Indonesia in December.
• 1579 June Drake met the Miwock people in Nova Albion and set off for home on 23 rd July 1579 after 5 weeks
correcting many map errors and creating a more accurate map of Chile.
• 1580 July rounded Cape of Good Hope
• 1580 26th Sept returned to Plymouth with 59 crew members and immensely valuable cargo of treasure and spices.
• 1580 October already plans for new expeditions.
• 1581 4th April The Queen knighted him
• 1581 New Year present Drake gave The Queen jewel encrusted crown and cross
 Causes and Events

As we read pages 3-8, highlight key

evidence and annotate where you
identify a cause of why Drake went on Rivalry with Spain / New trade routes
his voyage to the Americas. harass the Spanish

Then, add notes to your mind map as a

summary.
Causes

Amassing wealth Conquest

through piracy

Amassing wealth
through trade
After reading the causes and events
section and completing the mind map,
input the chain of events (p. 9) onto the
map (p. 8).
 Essay planning

First potential question:

‘To find new routes and territories was the main reason for Drake’s trip to the
Americas and circumnavigation.’ How far does a study of the Americas and Drake’s
circumnavigation, 1577-1580, support this statement? (16 marks)

Write this at the top of a new page.

Remember: in the exam, it is unlikely to be phrased exactly like this. Read the question carefully.
 Essay planning
Factor Evidence Explanation
Finding new
Create a full-page planning routes and
territories
grid in your book.

Harass the
Using the mind-map and Spanish

information booklet, identify

evidence to use for each Amass wealth
factor.

Then, explain each to the Overall:

question

Remember: any of the factors in the mind-maps could be in the question. Be prepared to answer any.
Factor Evidence Explanation

Finding new routes and • North-West sea-passage – Strait of Anian, link This had been a goal for many explorers
territories between Atlantic and Pacific. Return journey, went far for a long time, and would have sped up
further north than needed trade routes, and increase profits.
• Nova Albion Drake would want the glory
• Trade relations with South America for woollen cloth

Harass the Spanish • Allied with Cimaroons in order to attack Spanish Increase political power and reputation,
• Personal revenge – San Juan de Ulua, 1568 as well as embarrass the Spanish.
• Immediately raided a Spanish ship off the coast of
Morrocco.
• Relations had worsened with Spanish due to
Netherlands, so less stopping them

Amass wealth • Raided and plundered settlements in South America
• Stole 480m from La Concepcion
• Lots of investment in the enterprise (including privy
councillors)
• Previous voyages based on wealth – slave trade
Needed a return from investors and to
maintain favour of Elizabeth.
Also increases power of the nation

Overall:
 Essay planning
Factor Evidence Explanation
Finding new
Create a full-page planning routes and
territories
grid in your book.

Harass the
Using the mind-map and Spanish
information booklet, identify
evidence to use for each
Amass wealth
factor.

Then, explain each to the Overall:

question
 The Americas and Drake’s circumnavigation, 1577-1580.

• Line 1 – One word to sum up Sir Francis Drake’s voyage?

• Line 2 – In the 16th century how might the Spanish have described Drake? How might
the English have described Drake?
• Line 3 – Three reasons why Drake went on his voyage around the globe?
• Line 4 – Four other people connected to the circumnavigation?
• Line 5 – Five dated episodes that happened along the voyage
• Line 6 –Six consequences of the voyage
• Line 7 – Seven words associated with Drake’s links to The Americas before the voyage?
• Line 8 – Eight words (or a string a sentence together) to explain the significance of the
voyage
 Circumnavigation

Dragon Hero

Harass Spanish Piracy - get Claim

away
from Europe Treasure Land

Hatton Doughty Diego Maria

July 1578 Jan 1579 April –Dec

Dec 1577 March 1579
Capture Santa Maria Doughty Mocha D&D 1579
& Nuno da Silva executed attacked Caca Fuego Maria’s Story
England New routes, Medals
Queen Philip II
Drake rich reputation
maps, trade struck
pleased boosted furious

Enslaved San Juan Nombre de

Hawkins Revenge Diego Cimarrons
Africans de Ulua Dios

Vulnerable Spain Boosted England Treasure Switch North America