OCR Specification focus:
‘The importance of key individuals, including Drake, Raleigh and Clive, in promoting exploration, conquest and commercial ventures.’
Introduction
Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Robert Clive were pivotal in shaping Britain’s early imperial ambitions, driving exploration, conquest, and commerce from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries.
Sir Francis Drake (1540–1596)
Drake epitomised Elizabethan maritime ambition. A skilled seaman and privateer, his ventures both challenged Spanish dominance and secured wealth and prestige for England.
Exploration and Voyages
Drake was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe (1577–1580), proving the viability of long-distance navigation.
An annotated world map tracing Francis Drake’s circumnavigation (1577–1580), highlighting the scale of English oceanic navigation and its challenge to Iberian maritime dominance. Source
His voyages strengthened geographical knowledge and enhanced England’s reputation as an emerging maritime power.
Privateer: A private individual licensed by the Crown to attack enemy ships and seize their cargo during wartime, sharing spoils with investors.
Conquest and Conflict
He raided Spanish ports in the Americas, striking at the heart of Spain’s empire.
His involvement in the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588) reinforced England’s naval confidence and imperial aspirations.
Commercial Ventures
Drake’s expeditions plundered immense wealth, including silver and spices, which encouraged further investment in overseas ventures.
His success exemplified the role of Crown-backed entrepreneurship, where royal support and private profit converged.
Sir Walter Raleigh (1552–1618)
Raleigh represented the Elizabethan drive for colonisation, combining courtly ambition with imperial vision.
Colonisation Efforts
Raleigh sponsored the Roanoke Colony (1580s) in Virginia, named after Elizabeth I, the “Virgin Queen.”
John White’s 1585 map of Virginia situating Roanoke within the Outer Banks. It contextualises Raleigh’s colonial project, though it also extends south to Florida beyond the syllabus scope. Source
Although unsuccessful, Roanoke demonstrated early English commitment to permanent settlement in the Americas.
Colony: A settlement established and governed by a foreign power, often involving control over land, resources, and indigenous populations.
Imperial Promotion and Vision
Raleigh’s writings and court influence popularised ideas of England’s imperial destiny.
He stressed colonisation as a means to expand trade, spread Protestantism, and counter Catholic Spain.
Economic and Strategic Impact
Raleigh promoted the cultivation of cash crops such as tobacco, which became vital commodities in transatlantic commerce.
His projects linked England’s imperial expansion with broader political and religious objectives.
Robert Clive (1725–1774)
Clive marked a transition from maritime exploration to direct territorial control, symbolising the East India Company’s rise as a quasi-imperial authority.
Early Career and Character
Initially a Company clerk, Clive’s ambition and audacity transformed him into a military leader.
He embodied the shift from merchant adventurer to imperial conqueror.
Military Successes and Conquest
Clive’s decisive role at the Battle of Plassey (1757) established Company dominance in Bengal.
An eighteenth-century plan of the Battle of Plassey (1757) showing troop positions and terrain. It illustrates how a limited but decisive engagement secured Company dominance in Bengal. Source
This victory secured political control and economic extraction, laying the foundation for British imperial governance in India.
East India Company: A joint-stock trading company granted royal charter in 1600, empowered to trade, negotiate treaties, and exercise political authority overseas.
Commercial and Political Ventures
Clive reorganised Company revenue collection, securing vast financial resources.
He negotiated with Indian rulers, blending military coercion with diplomacy to expand British influence.
Criticism and Legacy
Accused of corruption and exploitation, Clive’s actions sparked debate in Parliament about the moral and financial costs of empire.
Nonetheless, he demonstrated the potential for individuals to transform Britain’s global role through conquest and commerce.
Comparative Significance of Drake, Raleigh and Clive
Commonalities
All three promoted imperial expansion by aligning personal ambition with national and corporate interests.
They embodied the Crown’s reliance on individuals to pioneer exploration, conquest, and commerce.
Differences
Drake was primarily a maritime raider, testing Spain’s strength and proving England’s naval potential.
Raleigh advanced the vision of colonial settlement, linking imperialism to cultural and religious missions.
Clive represented the shift towards territorial control and economic exploitation through Company rule in India.
Long-Term Impact
Drake and Raleigh inspired Elizabethan confidence in overseas expansion, though their efforts were experimental and precarious.
Clive’s victories consolidated Britain’s global role, foreshadowing the formal imperial dominance of the nineteenth century.
Key Themes for Study
The interaction of individual ambition and state priorities in shaping imperial policy.
The evolution from privateering and colonisation to corporate empire.
The tensions between profit, politics, and morality in the making of empire.
FAQ
Drake attacked Spanish possessions and shipping during his voyage, seizing valuable treasure. This undermined Spain’s monopoly in the Americas and embarrassed Philip II.
His success also showed that English ships could operate globally without Spanish support, demonstrating naval resilience. The feat encouraged further challenges to Spanish imperial authority.
Raleigh’s projects depended heavily on Elizabeth I’s favour, which provided legitimacy and funding opportunities. Without royal support, colonial plans could not proceed.
Patronage also enabled Raleigh to attract investors and courtiers. However, fluctuating court politics and shifting priorities meant that funding was unstable, contributing to the Roanoke colony’s failures.
Before Clive, the Company was primarily a trading body. His victories, especially at Plassey, transformed it into a territorial power with political authority.
This meant:
Collection of taxes in Bengal.
Direct involvement in Indian politics.
Establishing a military presence alongside commercial operations.
The Company now functioned as both a merchant enterprise and a governing body.
Financial risk: voyages required huge investment and could fail if ships were lost.
Political risk: falling out of favour at court could end a career.
Physical risk: disease, hostile encounters, and dangerous seas made survival uncertain.
These risks highlight the precarious nature of personal involvement in early imperial expansion.
The battle secured Bengal, one of India’s wealthiest provinces, ensuring steady revenue through land taxes.
It also gave Britain strategic control over trade routes and resources. By defeating the Nawab and sidelining French influence, Clive ensured that Britain emerged as the dominant European power in India.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
Name two key individuals who played an important role in promoting British overseas expansion between 1558 and 1783.
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for correctly naming each individual.
Acceptable answers: Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh, Robert Clive.
Maximum 2 marks.
Question 2 (5 marks)
Explain how Robert Clive contributed to the growth of British power in India.
Mark Scheme:
Up to 2 marks for identifying contributions.
Up to 3 marks for explanation and development.
Indicative content may include:
Clive’s victory at the Battle of Plassey (1757) securing Bengal (1 mark identification, 1 mark explanation).
Reorganisation of Company revenue collection ensuring financial dominance (1 mark identification, 1 mark explanation).
Use of diplomacy and alliances with Indian rulers alongside military force (1 mark identification, 1 mark explanation).
Full marks require at least two contributions with developed explanation showing how they enhanced British power.
