Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.
The closure of the Scheldt estuary following the Peace of Münster in 1648 led to a significant enhancement of Antwerp's economic prominence in Northwestern Europe.
Answer: False
Explanation: The closure of the Scheldt estuary, enacted by the Peace of Münster in 1648, effectively ended Antwerp's status as a major commercial port, thereby significantly diminishing its economic standing and bolstering Amsterdam's dominance.
Louis XIV initiated the War of Devolution in 1667, grounding his territorial claims in the Spanish Netherlands on the principle of hereditary succession derived from his marriage.
Answer: False
Explanation: Louis XIV initiated the War of Devolution in 1667 based on the obscure legal principle of Jus Devolutionis, which he interpreted to support his claims, rather than solely on general hereditary succession.
The marriage of Margaret Theresa of Spain to Emperor Leopold I served to bolster France's dynastic claims to the Spanish Empire.
Answer: False
Explanation: The marriage of Margaret Theresa to Emperor Leopold I created a potential dynastic union that strengthened Leopold's claim to the Spanish Empire, not France's. Louis XIV's claim was based on his own marriage to Maria Theresa and the principle of Jus Devolutionis.
Louis XIV's offer to mediate peace between Spain and the Dutch Republic paradoxically fostered closer ties between the latter two nations, leading to an alliance against France.
Answer: True
Explanation: Louis XIV's mediation proposal, which required the Dutch to enforce terms on Spain, was rejected by Spain. This rejection, coupled with French actions, prompted the Dutch and English to draw closer, forming the Triple Alliance against French expansion.
The dowry of 500,000 gold écus stipulated in the Treaty of the Pyrenees was fully paid, thereby validating Maria Theresa's renunciation of her Spanish inheritance rights.
Answer: False
Explanation: The dowry of 500,000 gold écus was never fully paid, a fact Louis XIV later used to contest the validity of Maria Theresa's renunciation of her inheritance rights to the Spanish Empire.
The Jus Devolutionis was a legal principle that stipulated inheritance rights were exclusively passed to the eldest son.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Jus Devolutionis was a legal principle that Louis XIV invoked, asserting that inheritance rights devolved only to children of a first marriage, not necessarily favoring the eldest son exclusively.
France's primary motivation for occupying the Spanish Netherlands was to secure trade routes essential for its expanding colonial empire.
Answer: False
Explanation: France's occupation of the Spanish Netherlands was primarily driven by Louis XIV's expansionist ambitions and claims based on inheritance law (Jus Devolutionis), rather than solely securing colonial trade routes.
The War of Devolution served as a direct catalyst for the formation of the Triple Alliance by establishing a palpable threat emanating from France.
Answer: True
Explanation: Louis XIV's invasion of the Spanish Netherlands during the War of Devolution directly threatened the interests of England and the Dutch Republic, compelling them to form the Triple Alliance as a defensive measure.
The Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659) definitively resolved all subsequent territorial claims between France and Spain.
Answer: False
Explanation: While the Treaty of the Pyrenees ended the Franco-Spanish War, it did not resolve all future territorial claims, as Louis XIV later used his marriage to Maria Theresa to assert new claims, leading to further conflict.
What was the principal economic consequence for Antwerp resulting from the Peace of Münster in 1648?
Answer: Its role as a major commercial port effectively ended due to the closure of the Scheldt estuary.
Explanation: The Peace of Münster (1648) led to the closure of the Scheldt estuary, which effectively terminated Antwerp's function as a major commercial port and significantly diminished its economic standing.
During the War of Devolution, Louis XIV invoked which legal principle to assert his claims over portions of the Spanish Netherlands?
Answer: The Jus Devolutionis
Explanation: Louis XIV based his claims during the War of Devolution on the obscure legal principle known as the Jus Devolutionis, which he interpreted to support his inheritance rights through his marriage to Maria Theresa.
What potential threat did the marriage of Margaret Theresa of Spain to Emperor Leopold I represent to French strategic interests?
Answer: It created a potential dynastic union where Leopold could inherit the entire Spanish Empire, which France sought to prevent.
Explanation: The marriage created a potential dynastic union between the Habsburg domains of the Holy Roman Empire and the Spanish Empire, a consolidation of power that France, under Louis XIV, sought to prevent.
How did Louis XIV's proposal for mediating peace between Spain and the Dutch Republic paradoxically contribute to the formation of the Triple Alliance?
Answer: It led to Spain rejecting the terms, pushing the Dutch and English closer together against France.
Explanation: Spain's rejection of Louis XIV's mediation terms, coupled with French actions, prompted the Dutch and English to align against France, thereby facilitating the Triple Alliance.
What was the significance of Louis XIV's marriage to Maria Theresa of Spain concerning inheritance claims to the Spanish Empire?
Answer: It led to Maria Theresa renouncing all claims, which Louis XIV later contested due to an unpaid dowry.
Explanation: The marriage, formalized by the Treaty of the Pyrenees, included Maria Theresa's renunciation of her inheritance rights, a condition Louis XIV later challenged based on the non-payment of her dowry.
How did the marriage of Emperor Leopold I to Margaret Theresa of Spain complicate the succession of the Spanish Empire?
Answer: It created a rival claimant (Leopold) who could potentially inherit the entire Spanish Empire if Charles II died heirless.
Explanation: Leopold's marriage to Margaret Theresa established him as a significant potential heir to the Spanish throne, creating a direct dynastic challenge to Louis XIV's own claims.
The Triple Alliance of 1668 was established primarily to support and facilitate French territorial expansion into the Spanish Netherlands.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Triple Alliance of 1668 was, in fact, a defensive pact formed by England, Sweden, and the Dutch Republic precisely to *counter* French expansionist policies under Louis XIV, particularly the occupation of the Spanish Netherlands and Franche-Comté.
England, Sweden, and the Dutch Republic constituted the sole signatories of the Triple Alliance of 1668.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Triple Alliance of 1668 was formally established through agreements between the Kingdom of England, the Swedish Empire, and the Dutch Republic, acting as the primary signatories.
A principal objective of the Triple Alliance was the establishment of a permanent peace treaty between France and Spain.
Answer: False
Explanation: While the Triple Alliance aimed to compel France and Spain to make peace, its primary goal was to curb French expansionism and maintain a balance of power, not necessarily to establish a permanent peace treaty at that juncture.
Sweden officially became a signatory to the Triple Alliance on January 23, 1668.
Answer: False
Explanation: January 23, 1668, was the date England and the Dutch Republic signed the Triple Alliance. Sweden formally joined later, on May 5, 1668.
Which three nations constituted the principal signatories of the Triple Alliance established in 1668?
Answer: England, Sweden, and the Dutch Republic
Explanation: The Triple Alliance of 1668 was a pact formed between the Kingdom of England, the Swedish Empire, and the Dutch Republic.
Which of the following was NOT an element of the Triple Alliance agreement signed in 1668?
Answer: A commitment to jointly invade Spanish territories in the Americas.
Explanation: The Triple Alliance focused on European territorial disputes and peace mediation, not on joint invasions of Spanish territories in the Americas.
While England and the Dutch Republic signed the Triple Alliance on January 23, 1668, when did Sweden formally accede to the pact?
Answer: May 5, 1668
Explanation: Sweden formally joined the Triple Alliance on May 5, 1668, after resolving financial claims related to its prior military actions.
Jean-Baptiste Colbert advocated for France's acquisition of the Spanish Netherlands primarily to mitigate the Dutch Republic's control over French export trade.
Answer: True
Explanation: Jean-Baptiste Colbert argued that acquiring the Spanish Netherlands, including key ports, was essential for France to gain control over its own export trade, which was largely dominated by the Dutch Republic at the time.
Johan de Witt pursued an alliance with England primarily to advance French territorial ambitions in Europe.
Answer: False
Explanation: Johan de Witt sought an alliance with England not to support French ambitions, but rather to counter the growing power of France and secure the economic and political interests of the Dutch Republic.
Charles II of England readily embraced an alliance with the Dutch Republic, motivated by profound personal admiration for their governmental system.
Answer: False
Explanation: Charles II's agreement to an alliance with the Dutch Republic was driven by pragmatic political and economic considerations, including parliamentary pressure and the desire for peace, rather than personal admiration for the Dutch government.
Sir William Temple, the English ambassador, perceived Dutch economic strength as a more significant threat than French territorial expansion.
Answer: False
Explanation: Sir William Temple viewed French expansionism as the primary threat to European stability and advocated for alliances, including with the Dutch Republic, to counterbalance French power.
Sir William Temple expedited the approval of the Triple Alliance by prioritizing ratification from provincial bodies before presenting it to the States General.
Answer: False
Explanation: Sir William Temple secured the approval of the Triple Alliance by persuading the States General to ratify it first, circumventing the usual process of seeking provincial approval beforehand.
Johan de Witt held the conviction that Louis XIV would readily temper his demands subsequent to the formation of the Triple Alliance.
Answer: True
Explanation: Johan de Witt believed the Triple Alliance could compel Louis XIV to moderate his expansionist policies, though he underestimated the French monarch's resolve and the potential risks involved.
François-Paul de Lisola's influential writings helped position Spain, rather than France, as England's principal adversary.
Answer: False
Explanation: François-Paul de Lisola's writings were instrumental in framing France, not Spain, as England's primary enemy, thereby influencing English foreign policy.
Jean-Baptiste Colbert posited that French control over Antwerp would render France dependent on Dutch trade routes.
Answer: False
Explanation: Jean-Baptiste Colbert believed controlling Antwerp would liberate France from dependence on Dutch trade routes, allowing it to manage its own export trade.
Johan de Witt viewed the Triple Alliance predominantly as a strategy to bolster the Orangist faction within the Dutch Republic.
Answer: False
Explanation: Johan de Witt, a prominent opponent of the Orangist faction, saw the Triple Alliance as a means to secure the Dutch Republic's stability and economic interests against French expansion, not to strengthen his political rivals.
Emperor Leopold I and Habsburg Spain were principal adversaries to the formation of the Triple Alliance.
Answer: False
Explanation: Emperor Leopold I and Habsburg Spain were not opponents of the Triple Alliance; rather, they were key stakeholders whose interests aligned with countering French expansion, and they were involved in the diplomatic maneuvering that led to the alliance.
Following the formation of the Triple Alliance, Sir William Temple championed an English foreign policy rooted in isolationism.
Answer: False
Explanation: Sir William Temple was a proponent of active engagement in European diplomacy and the balance of power, advocating for alliances rather than isolationism after the Triple Alliance.
Jean-Baptiste Colbert's primary rationale for advocating France's acquisition of the Spanish Netherlands was:
Answer: To control its own export trade, currently dominated by the Dutch Republic.
Explanation: Colbert argued that controlling the Spanish Netherlands would enable France to manage its own export trade, thereby reducing its economic dependence on the Dutch Republic.
As Grand Pensionary of Holland, Johan de Witt primarily sought an alliance with England to:
Answer: Counter the growing power of France and secure Dutch economic supremacy.
Explanation: De Witt's primary objective was to counterbalance the ascendant power of France and safeguard the economic dominance and security of the Dutch Republic.
What were the principal reasons Charles II of England agreed to negotiate an alliance with the Dutch Republic, notwithstanding prior conflicts?
Answer: Parliament and the City of London desired peace after war losses and the Great Fire.
Explanation: Charles II's decision was influenced by domestic pressures, including Parliament's and London's desire for peace following war expenditures and the Great Fire, making an alliance with the Dutch a pragmatic choice.
Identify Sir William Temple and his principal perspective concerning the alliance:
Answer: An English ambassador who viewed French expansion as a greater threat than Dutch economic strength.
Explanation: Sir William Temple, the English ambassador, was a key architect of the Triple Alliance, perceiving French expansionism as the paramount threat to European stability and advocating for collective security.
How did Sir William Temple expedite the approval process for the Triple Alliance within the States General?
Answer: He persuaded the States General to approve it before seeking provincial ratification, leveraging public enthusiasm.
Explanation: Temple successfully navigated Dutch political procedures by securing immediate approval from the States General, bypassing the more time-consuming provincial ratification process, aided by public support.
Johan de Witt's assessment of the Triple Alliance's potential included the belief that it could:
Answer: Force Louis XIV to moderate his demands, though he underestimated the risk.
Explanation: De Witt believed the alliance could compel Louis XIV to moderate his ambitions, but he underestimated the French king's determination and the potential consequences of thwarting French policy.
François-Paul de Lisola contributed to shaping English perceptions by:
Answer: Publishing works that helped establish France as England's enemy.
Explanation: Lisola's writings, particularly 'The Buckler of State and Justice,' were influential in framing France as England's principal adversary, thereby shaping diplomatic discourse.
What was the strategic significance for Jean-Baptiste Colbert in controlling the port of Antwerp?
Answer: To facilitate the export of French manufactured goods without Dutch intermediaries.
Explanation: Colbert viewed control of Antwerp as essential for France to bypass Dutch intermediaries and directly manage its own export trade, thereby enhancing national economic power.
The Dutch raid on the Medway in 1667 was a strategically significant event that profoundly influenced the negotiations leading to the Treaty of Breda.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Dutch raid on the Medway in 1667 was a decisive military action that compelled England to accept the terms of the Treaty of Breda, thus having a major impact on the negotiations.
The Treaty of Madrid, signed in 1667, served as the official instrument concluding the Second Anglo-Dutch War.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Treaty of Madrid (1667) officially concluded the Anglo-Spanish War (1654-1660) and included English mediation for the Portuguese Restoration War. The Second Anglo-Dutch War was ended by the Treaty of Breda in the same year.
The secret Partition Treaty negotiated in January 1668 between Louis XIV and Emperor Leopold I stipulated the division of territories belonging to England.
Answer: False
Explanation: The secret Partition Treaty of January 1668 between Louis XIV and Emperor Leopold I concerned the planned division of the Spanish Empire upon the death of Charles II, not territories belonging to England.
The Triple Alliance contained provisions specifically aimed at mediating peace between France and Portugal.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Triple Alliance included clauses for mediating peace between Spain and Portugal, not France and Portugal.
Under the terms influenced by the Triple Alliance, France agreed to return Franche-Comté to Spain while retaining control over key cities such as Lille and Tournai.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, facilitated by the Triple Alliance, required France to return Franche-Comté to Spain but allowed France to retain several occupied towns in the Spanish Netherlands, including Lille and Tournai.
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668) stipulated that France would be responsible for enforcing Spain's adherence to the treaty's terms.
Answer: False
Explanation: Article 6 of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle obligated the Dutch and English, not France, to enforce compliance if Spain failed to adhere to the treaty's terms, reflecting a secret clause of the Triple Alliance.
The Triple Alliance sought to enforce peace between Spain and Portugal through the provision of financial assistance to Portugal.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Triple Alliance aimed to enforce peace between Spain and Portugal by committing the signatories to military action if necessary, rather than direct financial aid.
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle mandated that France return all territories it had occupied during the War of Devolution.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle required France to return Franche-Comté but allowed it to retain several towns occupied in the Spanish Netherlands during the War of Devolution.
The secret clauses appended to the Triple Alliance primarily addressed the mediation of disputes between England and France.
Answer: False
Explanation: The secret clauses of the Triple Alliance focused on mediating and enforcing peace between Spain and Portugal, and on compelling France to return to its 1659 borders, not on disputes between England and France.
Which military event critically pressured England into accepting the terms of the Treaty of Breda in 1667?
Answer: The Dutch raid on the Medway
Explanation: The devastating Dutch raid on the Medway in June 1667 compelled England to negotiate and accept the Treaty of Breda, concluding the Second Anglo-Dutch War.
The secret Partition Treaty, signed by Louis XIV and Emperor Leopold I in January 1668, pertained to:
Answer: The division of the Spanish Empire upon the death of Charles II.
Explanation: This treaty outlined the planned partition of the vast Spanish Empire between France and the Holy Roman Empire in anticipation of the Spanish King Charles II's demise without an heir.
As stipulated by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which territory was France obligated to return to Spain?
Answer: Franche-Comté
Explanation: The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle required France to relinquish control of Franche-Comté to Spain.
Article 6 of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668) reflected which specific provision of the Triple Alliance?
Answer: The obligation for the Dutch and English to enforce compliance if Spain did not adhere to terms.
Explanation: Article 6 of the treaty mirrored a secret clause of the Triple Alliance, tasking the Dutch and English with enforcing Spain's adherence to the peace terms.
How did the Triple Alliance propose to enforce peace between Spain and Portugal?
Answer: By committing the signatories to military enforcement if necessary.
Explanation: The secret clauses of the Triple Alliance included a commitment by the signatories to employ military force if necessary to compel Spain to conclude peace with Portugal.
What was the significance of the Treaty of Madrid (1667) concerning Anglo-Spanish relations?
Answer: It officially concluded the Anglo-Spanish War (1654-1660) and included English mediation for the Portuguese Restoration War.
Explanation: The Treaty of Madrid formally ended the Anglo-Spanish War and saw England agree to mediate the Portuguese Restoration War, demonstrating its diplomatic engagement on the continent.
The Triple Alliance's commitment to enforcing peace between Spain and Portugal was primarily intended to:
Answer: Ensuring France did not exploit the conflict for its own gain.
Explanation: By mediating and enforcing peace between Spain and Portugal, the Triple Alliance aimed to prevent France from leveraging the conflict to its own strategic advantage.
Sweden's inclusion in the Triple Alliance was predicated on its substantial naval capabilities within the Mediterranean Sea.
Answer: False
Explanation: Sweden's inclusion was strategically important due to its control over Baltic Sea trade in vital resources like pitch and timber for shipbuilding, not its naval power in the Mediterranean.
The English Parliament sanctioned the allocation of £300,000 to support the Triple Alliance's objectives should military intervention become necessary.
Answer: True
Explanation: The English Parliament approved a financial commitment of £300,000, contingent upon the necessity of military action to uphold the Triple Alliance's goals.
Unresolved commercial disputes between England and Spain diminished England's enthusiasm for engaging in military conflict against Spain.
Answer: True
Explanation: England's lack of eagerness for war against Spain was partly due to outstanding commercial disagreements stemming from the Treaty of Madrid (1667), alongside other strategic considerations.
Sweden's participation in the Triple Alliance was critical for securing essential timber resources vital for naval construction.
Answer: True
Explanation: Sweden's strategic importance stemmed from its control over Baltic Sea trade, providing crucial materials like pitch and timber necessary for shipbuilding, which benefited the alliance's collective military capacity.
The Dutch Republic's involvement in the Triple Alliance was principally motivated by a desire to endorse French economic policies.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Dutch Republic joined the Triple Alliance primarily to counter French economic and territorial expansion, which threatened its own commercial interests and security.
What strategic resource, controlled by Sweden, significantly enhanced its value to the Triple Alliance?
Answer: Control over vital Baltic Sea trade in pitch and timber for shipbuilding.
Explanation: Sweden's control over the Baltic trade in pitch and timber was crucial for the alliance, as these materials were essential for naval construction.
What specific financial commitment did the English Parliament approve to bolster the Triple Alliance's potential military operations?
Answer: £300,000
Explanation: The English Parliament authorized a financial contribution of £300,000, contingent upon the necessity of military action to support the alliance's objectives.
Which factor significantly diminished England's genuine commitment to engaging in hostilities against Spain, notwithstanding its participation in the Triple Alliance?
Answer: Unresolved commercial disputes stemming from the Treaty of Madrid (1667).
Explanation: Lingering commercial disagreements between England and Spain, stemming from the Treaty of Madrid, contributed to England's reluctance to fully commit to military action against Spain.
Subsequent to the formation of the Triple Alliance, French troops executed an immediate withdrawal from all territories they had occupied.
Answer: False
Explanation: Following the formation of the Triple Alliance, French troops did not immediately withdraw from all occupied territories; instead, they completed the conquest of Franche-Comté before Louis XIV agreed to peace terms.
The Triple Alliance was instrumental in preserving the enduring alliance that existed between France and the Dutch Republic.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Triple Alliance marked the end of the long-standing Franco-Dutch alliance, as it fostered a perception of France as a common threat, leading to Dutch cooperation with England against French expansion.
The Triple Alliance is widely regarded as a seminal illustration of the balance of power principle in European diplomatic history.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Triple Alliance effectively demonstrated the principle of the balance of power by forming a coalition to counter the hegemonic ambitions of a single state, thereby influencing subsequent European diplomacy.
In the aftermath of the Triple Alliance, English foreign policy pivoted towards increased reliance on traditional allies such as Spain and the Holy Roman Empire.
Answer: False
Explanation: Following the Triple Alliance, English foreign policy shifted towards forging new alliances with powers like Sweden and Brandenburg, moving away from sole reliance on traditional partners.
In response to the Triple Alliance, Louis XIV adopted a policy of moderating his expansionist plans and pursuing peaceful coexistence.
Answer: False
Explanation: Louis XIV's reaction to the Triple Alliance was not moderation; instead, it spurred him to plan for the military defeat of the Dutch Republic to achieve his territorial objectives.
The Triple Alliance served as a direct precursor to the coalition formed by the Holy Roman Empire against France during the Thirty Years' War.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Triple Alliance is considered a precursor to later anti-French coalitions, such as those formed during the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession, not the Thirty Years' War.
The application of the balance of power concept by England following the formation of the Triple Alliance entailed a policy of strict neutrality in continental conflicts.
Answer: False
Explanation: Contrary to maintaining neutrality, England's post-Triple Alliance policy actively involved forming alliances and strengthening its military, particularly the Royal Navy, to maintain equilibrium among European powers and influence continental affairs.
The Triple Alliance proved to be a durable pact that effectively precluded future conflicts between England and the Dutch Republic.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Triple Alliance was short-lived and ultimately failed to prevent future conflicts between England and the Dutch Republic, as their interests diverged significantly in subsequent years.
The Triple Alliance played a significant role in consolidating the perception of France as a common adversary among various European powers.
Answer: True
Explanation: By uniting England, Sweden, and the Dutch Republic against French expansion, the Triple Alliance fostered the concept of France as a shared threat, influencing future coalition formations.
The Triple Alliance functioned as a model for the coalition subsequently formed during the Napoleonic Wars.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Triple Alliance is considered a precursor to coalitions like the Grand Alliance against Louis XIV, rather than a direct model for the coalitions formed during the Napoleonic Wars.
What was the immediate consequence for France following the formation of the Triple Alliance and the subsequent Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle?
Answer: French troops entered and conquered Franche-Comté, after which Louis XIV decided to pursue peace.
Explanation: Shortly after the Triple Alliance was formed, French forces conquered Franche-Comté, leading Louis XIV to accept the terms of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle and pursue peace.
The formation of the Triple Alliance represented a significant diplomatic shift primarily by:
Answer: Ending the long-standing alliance between France and the Dutch Republic.
Explanation: The Triple Alliance fundamentally altered European alignments by dissolving the traditional Franco-Dutch alliance and fostering a new dynamic of cooperation between the Dutch and England against French expansion.
The concept of the "balance of power," as championed by Sir William Temple and exemplified by the Triple Alliance, implied:
Answer: The necessity of forming alliances to maintain equilibrium among powers.
Explanation: The balance of power concept, as applied in the context of the Triple Alliance, emphasized the strategic importance of forming alliances to prevent any single power from achieving hegemony and to maintain equilibrium among European states.
How did the Triple Alliance influence English foreign policy in the years immediately subsequent to its establishment?
Answer: It encouraged alliances with powers like Sweden and Brandenburg, shifting from traditional partners.
Explanation: The Triple Alliance marked a strategic reorientation for English foreign policy, encouraging alliances with powers such as Sweden and Brandenburg and moving away from exclusive reliance on traditional partners.
Louis XIV's reaction to the formation of the Triple Alliance prompted him to plan for which subsequent strategic action?
Answer: To defeat the Dutch Republic militarily to acquire the Spanish Netherlands.
Explanation: Instead of moderating his ambitions, Louis XIV resolved to achieve his objectives by militarily defeating the Dutch Republic and subsequently acquiring the Spanish Netherlands.
The Triple Alliance is recognized as a significant precursor to which subsequent major European coalition?
Answer: The Grand Alliance fighting against France in the Nine Years' War and War of the Spanish Succession.
Explanation: The Triple Alliance established a precedent for collective security against French expansion, directly influencing the formation of the Grand Alliance and subsequent coalitions against Louis XIV.
In what manner did the Triple Alliance undermine the Franco-Dutch alliance?
Answer: By fostering a perception of France as a common threat, leading to Dutch cooperation with England against French expansion.
Explanation: The alliance shifted the perception of France from an ally to a common threat, thereby facilitating Dutch cooperation with England and effectively dissolving the prior Franco-Dutch alignment.
What was a notable influence of the Triple Alliance on English foreign policy?
Answer: Increased military spending, particularly on the Royal Navy, from 1668-1674.
Explanation: Following the Triple Alliance, England significantly increased its naval expenditure between 1668 and 1674, reflecting a commitment to maintaining the balance of power and projecting influence.