Spanish Armada Case Study

1. Elizabeth I ruled the monarch in England and during her reign was constrained in her ability to increase taxes compared to the rulers of Spain and France. This was due to the fact that Elizabeth I was not as financially independent and was forced to beg parliament for the increase of taxes. However the English parliament demanded a concession in specific restrictions on Elizabeth I and her right to monopolies. England’s parliament had full control of taxation and this was something that the parliament had a sense of power over Elizabeth I. This would mean even trade was monopolised by the English parliament which further strained Elizabeth I from full power in the countries dealings. English traders didn’t want to deal with monarchy control …show more content…
England’s victory over Spain in 1588 led them into an inclusive political system due to the fact that the Atlantic Ocean was now more open to England and that it was on more equal terms. England navy relied heavily on merchants and privateers which was involved in the Atlantic trade making profits. Spain became frustrated with the privateers creating tension with their monopoly and the English’s involvement. Spain was disadvantaged due to the bad weather and the loss of their commander leading them to disastrous loss. The Spanish Armada’s loss was a great success to England which would cause a transformative critical juncture and England manage to jumpstart itself. This brought about a new set of economic and political institutions which was based on more inclusive prospects than other societies. The victory of England against Spain caused England to become stronger in its institutions. Spain was not ready for such a failure and England winning this critical juncture disrupted the political and economic balance in multiple societies. The glorious revolution of 1688 was a result of the critical juncture after the victory of the Atlantic sea trade which further helped England colonise parts of the North America and Caribbean, trade with the Americans and East included. Due to the victory England began an inclusive political system which is characterised as centralised political authority and pluralism. This was the critical juncture that would lead the political revolution …show more content…
Due to the series of events inclusive institutions have been developed where there is multiple people whom are included in the economy, productivity and working together in governance of the countries. The economic systems were therefore more open to society and the foundation of a pluralistic society which further accelerated the steps to political centralization all characteristics of inclusive institutions forming democracy. Society was gaining more power which was distributed (pluralism) and this was forming democracy globally. The glorious revolution of 1968 appears to be the foundation of pluralism and the economic institutions were given incentives and innovation. The rise of the industrial revolution gave people the opportunity to use their ideas and further that they had property rights which pushed democracy to be a way of system of government and thinking. South Africa due to the critical junctures and events that had occurred in the past globally rather than progressing democratically repeated the similar problems like the diminishing of distributed power politically and dismantling economic progress from intensifying the misuses of the leaders before them. South Africa didn’t form democracy early on due to apartheid as there was not equal power distributed nor did all of the society have any say in how the country was being governed but were silenced. Critical junctures can cause inclusive institutions but can also push a stronger extractive institution.