The Dutch Revolt
By: FRANKenstein and Zegor
OVERVIEW OF THE DUTCH REVOLT
Years: 1568-1648
Summary: The dutch Revolt was between the Spanish and their colonies in the Netherlands. The Dutch people of the Netherlands respected the Spanish king until Philip II came to power. The Dutch people felt he focused only on the needs of the Spanish people, leaving them without equal treatment and wanting independence from the Spanish rule. They revolted against their governor who was then replaced by the Spanish government. The new governor was very harsh, executing 3000 rebels, resulting in higher tensions and more polarized views on each side. One Dutchman had power through land ownership, as he was second to only King Philip II in Netherland territory owned. When he remained neutral, the Spanish acted against him, causing him to join the rebellion and lead raids, becoming an icon of the Revolt. Luckily for the Dutch rebels, the Queen of England aided them, which angered King Philip II so much that he put many resources into fighting England, which became very expensive. This led him to bankruptcy, leaving him with insufficient funds to continue fighting against the rebels.
Cause:The root cause is the lack of consideration for the Dutch people in the Spanish government, leading to the desire for independence.
Course: 1566 - Catholic churches targeted
1567 - Alva dispatched with 10,000 troops to the Netherlands
1568 - William of Orange attempted uprising fails
1572 - Rebellion upsurge
1576 - 'Spanish Fury' - Spanish Mercenaries sacked Antwerp - results in the Pacification of Ghent where the provinces united against the Spanish.
1579 - Union of Arras - South returns to Spanish fold to Religious differences however Union of Utrecht cements the Union of the Northern Provinces.
1581 - Act of Abjuration - United provinces depose Philip as Sovereign
1584 - William of Orange assasinated, Maurice of Orange takes up leadership
1585 - Treaty of Nonsuch - England aid Dutch Rebels
1596 - Triple Alliance - France, England and Northern Provinces united against Spain
1596 - Southern Dutch provinces granted to the Archdukes Albert and Isabella (daughter) by Philip due to the financial and economic pressure.
Key Figures/Groups:
King Philip II- new Spanish monarch that underrepresented the Dutch colonists views and beliefs
William the Silent- landowner that become an icon of the rebellion, turning it into an all out war
Fernando Alvarez of Toledo- new governor that executed rebels escalating tensions and ripping the divide between the Spanish and Dutch colonists yet further
Calvinists- main religion of Netherland territories, caused them to feel unrepresented in faith as well as government, which resulted in a divide
Queen of England- assisted the rebels which led King Philip II to go bankrupt, resulting in inefficient funds to continue fighting against the rebellion.
Outcome: The Dutch and the English (Protestants) won in the Dutch Revolt. The Peace of Munster, which was later included into the Peace of Westphalia in October 1648, ended the war between Spain and the United Provinces. It was signed on January 30, 1648. It helped guarantee the independence of the Dutch Republic and make permanent the division of the Low Countries.
Main Significance: The Dutch revolt allowed the independence of the Netherlands and led them to the rapid growth of the Dutch Empire. The Dutch quickly established trading ports around the world and grew wealthier. It is also important because it shows how the Dutch´s liberalism was a driving force behind the success of the revolt. It caused the Netherlands to divide into two parts. The southern part remained under Spain's control. The northern part consisted of the Seven United Netherlands. Also, many Dutch documents on independence and personal freedom later inspired the early Americans.
Must include the link to at least one primary source document The Act of Abjuration- official independence declaration
The Act of Abjuration was written in 1581 as a declaration of the Dutch people’s separation from Spanish governance. It was created to publicly announce to the entire world the separation from SPanish colonies and the move to be independently recognized as a nation. It entails the reasoning for breaking away from Spanish rule and what the Dutch people deserve.
Must link 3 source
1)http://www.spanishwars.net/17th-century-80-years-war-summary.html