Final answer:
Thomas Campbell's 'Ye Mariners of England' makes the case for English control over its surrounding seas and the necessity of a strong navy for trade dominance. The poem reflects the historical significance of the 1651 Navigation Ordinance and the 1660 Navigation Act in establishing English naval superiority and commercial control, actions affirmed by the defeat of the Spanish Armada and later theories on sea power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poem that advocates for England to govern the seas surrounding its coast and to establish a powerful navy to dominate trade is 'Ye Mariners of England' by Thomas Campbell. This patriotic poem was indicative of the national sentiment during a time when maritime strength was integral to England's commercial and imperial ambitions. Historical actions like the 1651 Navigation Ordinance and the 1660 Navigation Act underscored this strategy by ensuring that only English ships could transport goods from the colonies, thus bolstering England's naval and trade prowess.
The destruction of the Spanish Armada in 1588 by the smaller, quicker English ships and a providential storm marked the ascension of England as a premier naval power, paving the way for its colonial expansion into the Americas. England's naval dominance was not just about military might but also about economic control, as evidenced by the regulation of trade with the most lucrative commodities. Military theorists like Ahed Thayer Mahan later emphasized the significance of sea power in shaping history, as it provided the essential control over trade that allowed for national prosperity.
'Ye Mariners of England' therefore encapsulates the argument for England's governance over surrounding seas through a strong navy, expressing a nationalistic pride in English maritime supremacy and its role in shaping global trade and colonization.