The Lost Colony of Roanoke |
Sir Walter Raleigh Colony had Dual PurposesThe"Lost Colony at Roanoke" was a settlement of 117 men, women and children that landed on Roanoke Island in 1587. It was the first English colony in the New World. The colony was funded by Sir Walter Raleigh and led by his friend John White. Raleigh had received a charter from Queen Elizabeth I. The main purpose of the expedition was to find riches in the New World. A secondary purpose of the colony was to establish a base for which the queen's privateers could attack Spanish treasure galleons. The colonists who settled Roanoke may have first believed their settlement was to be established on the Chesapeake Bay to the north. John White's AbsenceSoon after arrival, the first English child in the New World was born, White’s granddaughter, Virginia Dare. It quickly became apparent, however, that the colony needed additional supplies to survive. The settlers convinced John White to return to England to garner the necessary supplies. White, however, was unable to return to the island because of the onset of the Anglo-Spanish War in 1588. Because of the war, White could not procure a ship as all were being used in the war. An Enduring Mystery - What Happened?White was finally able to return to the colony on August 18, 1590, aboard a privateering vessel. This date also happened to be the third birthday of his granddaughter, Virginia Dare. White was astonished to find the island completely deserted. There was no sign of any of the settlers, nor was their evidence of any fight or struggle. The only clue was the word “Croatoan” carved into a nearby post. All fortifications were dismantled, rather than destroyed, which suggested a departure may have been planned by the settlers. There are several theories regarding the disappearance of the settlers. One of the leading theories is that the Roanoke settlers integrated with one of the local native groups to ensure their survival. We do know that the colonists arrived at Roanoke Island during one of the greatest draughts the region had ever experienced. This would have made it very difficult to grow crops or find drinking water. Others believed the colonists may have been killed by the Spanish, or, by other native groups. The Algonquin chief Powhatan, father of Pocahontas, claimed to have killed the Roanoke settlers.
The Mystery of the Lost Colony - NPS video
Will we Ever Know?The mystery of the Roanoke Island settlement lives on today. Scientists will probably never know what fate befell those settlers, but do know the failure of the colony led the English to establish the Jamestown Colony, the first permanent, successful English settlement in the New World, in 1607. Discussion Questions
Glossary
Sir Walter Raleigh's Colony Had Two PurposesIn 1587, 117 English men, women, and children settled on Roanoke Island. It was the first English colony in the New World. Sir Walter Raleigh paid for the colony, and his friend John White led it. The main goal was to find riches. A second goal was to help English privateers (pirates) attack Spanish treasure ships. The settlers may have thought they were going to settle farther north, near the Chesapeake Bay. John White's AbsenceShortly after the group arrived, the first English child born in the New World, Virginia Dare, was born. She was John White’s granddaughter. The settlers soon realized they needed more supplies. They sent White back to England. But in 1588, war broke out between England and Spain, and all ships were needed for fighting. White could not return for three years. A Great MysteryJohn White finally returned to Roanoke on August 18, 1590—his granddaughter’s third birthday. When he arrived, the island was empty. All the settlers were gone. There were no signs of a fight. The only clue was the word “Croatoan” carved on a post. The fort had been taken apart, not destroyed, which made it seem like the people had left on purpose. What Happened to the Lost Colony?No one knows for sure what happened to the Roanoke settlers. Some think they joined a local Native American tribe to survive. The colony arrived during a terrible drought, which made farming hard. Others think the settlers were killed by other Native groups or by the Spanish. One chief, Powhatan, claimed he killed them. The mystery has never been solved. Why It MattersEven though the Roanoke Colony failed, it helped the English learn more about settling in the New World. This led to the creation of Jamestown in 1607, the first successful English colony in America. |
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