Exploration and Expansion: The Role of Sir Francis Drake

History
GCSE Grade 8 / Year 9 / GCSE
9 questions
~18 mins
1 views0 downloads

About This Worksheet

This worksheet guides students through planning an essay on Sir Francis Drake's contributions to exploration and expansion, focusing on developing structured arguments and evaluating historical significance.

Worksheet Preview

Full preview • 9 questions

Exploration and Expansion: The Role of Sir Francis Drake

Subject: HistoryGrade: GCSE Grade 8 / Year 9 / GCSE
Name:
Date:
TeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizz

Untitled Worksheet

Grade GCSE Grade 8 / Year 9 / GCSE
A

Essay Title: Was Sir Francis Drake a hero of exploration?

Introduction Thesis: Outline whether Drake's actions made him a hero in the age of exploration.**

Point 1: Drake's achievements in exploration and his contribution to expanding English influence.

'Sir Francis Drake was instrumental in exploring new territories and claiming lands for England, such as his circumnavigation of the world in 1577-1580.' Provenance: Historical account from a 17th-century biography.

Point 2: Drake's role in attacking Spanish ships and territories, and the impact on Spain and England.

'His raids on Spanish ships and colonies increased England's wealth and power but also heightened tensions with Spain.' Provenance: Contemporary diplomatic correspondence.

Counter-argument: Some argue Drake's actions provoked conflicts that had negative consequences for England and Spain.

'His aggressive tactics contributed to the Anglo-Spanish War, which led to long-term conflict.' Provenance: Later historical analysis.

Conclusion: Summarise whether Drake's exploration efforts outweigh his military actions in terms of his legacy.

1.
Explain what motivated Sir Francis Drake's voyages and how they contributed to England's expansion. (3 marks)
[3 marks]
2.
Compare Drake's exploration achievements with his military actions against Spain. (4 marks)
[4 marks]
3.
Outline how Drake's voyages affected England's position in the world. (4 marks)
[4 marks]
4.
Explain why some historians view Drake's actions as both positive and negative. (4 marks)
[4 marks]
5.
Write an outline for an essay discussing whether Sir Francis Drake was a hero of exploration. Include key points and arguments.
[8 marks]
6.
Analyse the significance of Drake's circumnavigation of the world for England. (6 marks)
[6 marks]
7.
Compare the long-term impacts of Drake's exploration and his military actions. (6 marks)
[6 marks]
8.
Explain how Drake's actions influenced England's relationship with Spain. (4 marks)
[4 marks]
9.
Assess whether Drake's exploration achievements outweigh the conflicts he caused. (8 marks)
[8 marks]

Quick Actions

What is Remix?

Create a new worksheet based on this one. Change the grade level, topic, number of questions, or difficulty - then generate a fresh version.

  • • Change grade level (Grade 6 → Grade 7)
  • • Swap topics (Harry Potter → Macbeth)
  • • Add more questions (10 → 15)
  • • Adjust difficulty

Details

Created
1/1/2026
Updated
1/1/2026
Type
worksheet