Although Spain was an extremely large country, its economic, political, and social problems had engulfed the machinery on which the country functioned. Phillip II was so religiously devoted that he had started to wage war after war in the name of universal Catholicism. Unfortunately, he did not realize the repercussion that would reverberate through Spain and colonies. Spain had started to fall into an economic slide toward oblivion, and the Spanish people were aroused and angry at the state in which they had been forced to live. As all of these problems plagued Spain, their economic power fell greatly. Spain slid from the worlds most prominent power, to a nation on the verge of chaos. Although Spain was in shambles, or on the road toward ruin, Phillip II still decided to confront the economically stable and British-allied Netherlands.
The Netherlands, although small, were an extremely stable nation. Protestant faith had spread throughout most of the nation, and partially based on certain Protestant principles, the Dutch handled their money very well. Masses of money were coming into the Netherlands because of forming commercial cities such as Antwerp and Bruges. Beyond their economic stability, the Dutch were extremely well organized in political manners. The 17 provinces within the Netherlands developed a federal collaboration of “Netherlandish identity.” Dating back even further, to 1355, was the Joyeuse Entrée(Joyous Entry), the Dutch constitution. Both of these factors added to political and social unity within the Netherlands. Spain lacked this one quality, completely. In addition, Phillip’s arrogant preaching of universal “Spanishness” only heightened the Dutch nationalism. The Netherlands was a land that was economically sound, as well as politically and socially stable. Even if the Dutch were living in a smaller nation than the Spaniards, they seemed to have all of the advantages.
The Netherlands was a very capable country in a much more stable situation than Spain, but with the help of English, the rising world power, the Dutch created a powerful alliance that would help them win in their battle against “Goliath.” All of the European nations had started to see the Spanish fall into oblivion, but England seemed to be the nation most prominently establishing themselves as the new European and world power. England had become a bulwark of Protestantism and a center for anti-Spanish feelings. The English rallied, readily, around their Queen Elizabeth I. The English and the Dutch held similar views on religion as well as against Spain, and there proximity to each other was very helpful. The alliance seemed natural. The English protected and helped the Dutch against the Spanish, and once the English had defeated the Spanish Armada and proven themselves all-powerful, the Dutch were clearly done with Spanish confrontation. Amsterdam had become one of the leading ports in Europe and once the Dutch and English East India Tea Companies had formed, trade was taken to a completely new level. The tiny nation of the Netherlands had indeed knocked down the once majestic Spain.
The Netherlands, initially under Spanish rule, was always thought of as a valuable nation although it was small in size. In confrontation with the Spanish, the Netherlands proved that size was not the determining factor in a conflict. Spain was in a dire situation economically, politically, and socially. The Dutch were in an extremely stable state, and growing to be even more prosperous, in many ways. With the help of England, the rising world power at the time, the Dutch were able fend off the Spanish, as well as establish themselves as a powerful and flourishing nation.