DBQ: The Dutch Republic

826 Words2 Pages

The Dutch Republic DBQ
Between 1650 and 1713, the Dutch Republic faced many challenges to it's security, unity and prosperity. In these years, the Dutch Republic faced a decline in trade, increased debt, crushing military defeats and a skeptical, divided society, all of which threatened the vitality of the Republic. A major aspect of the Dutch Republic's security woes was it's coastal location and proximity to England and France. The English and Dutch engaged in many battles on the coasts of the North Sea between 1652 and 1674 (Doc 1). In this time period, the Dutch seized 500 English ships, while the English seized over 2,000 Dutch ships (Doc 3). This wide margin suggests that the Dutch had a weak military and navy who were unable to compete with England. Their weak military and navy, coupled with their coastal border with England and land border with France left them vulnerable to attacks. England and France, economic competitors with the …show more content…

When they allied in 1670 with the Treaty of Dover, and declared war on the Dutch Republic, the Republic stood little to no chance since their inadequate army and navy would be flanked by both land and sea (Doc 6). In the wake of the war, the Amsterdam City Council, who have a vested interest in the Dutch Republic and are likely somewhat biased, recognized that foreign powers “schemed” to destroy the scant remains of Dutch trade and navigation. Furthermore, Konrad Van Beuningen, the Dutch ambassador to England, in a letter to the Dutch government, in which he likely shed the Republic in a positive light, declared that England's intent was to “ruin [their] commerce” (Doc 8). An Englishman living in

Open Document