You are viewing a free preview of this lesson.
Subscribe to unlock all 10 lessons in this course and every other course on LearningBro.
The Anglo-Dutch Wars were a series of conflicts between England and the Dutch Republic (the United Provinces of the Netherlands) fought primarily over trade and naval supremacy. During the Restoration period, England fought the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665–1667) and the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672–1674). These wars had major political, economic, and military consequences for Restoration England.
By the mid-17th century, the Dutch Republic was the leading commercial and maritime power in Europe. England and the Dutch competed fiercely for control of:
| Area of Competition | Detail |
|---|---|
| Colonial trade | Both nations wanted to control trade routes to the East Indies (spices), West Africa (slaves and gold), and the Americas (sugar, tobacco) |
| Fishing rights | The Dutch dominated the North Sea herring fishery, which the English resented |
| Carrying trade | The Dutch had the largest merchant fleet in the world and carried goods for other nations, undercutting English merchants |
| Naval power | Control of the seas was essential for both trade and national security |
Subscribe to continue reading
Get full access to this lesson and all 10 lessons in this course.