raleigh and virginia

• Walter Raleigh:

  • Raleigh organised failed expedition to colonise Virginia
  • in 1584, he was given grant to explore and settle in North America
  • he needed to raise money and encourage Englishment to leave homes and settle in land many knew little about
  • he did not lead colonists
  • significant as he raised funds for projects, persuaded people to leave England
  • developed blueprint used for later English colonisations
• why was Virginia attempting to be colonised?

  • trade - colonies could produce crops, sugar cane, tobacco for England, gold and animal skin could be sold for profit
  • England would be less dependent on Spain, France and Italy for imported goods
  • successful colony in Virginia could open up New World for English settlement
• what did colonists take:

  • food
  • salt for preserving food
  • fresh water for voyage
  • tools and equipment to farm and build
  • seeds for planting
  • weapons
• who went:

  • Queen did not allow Raleigh to lead expidition
  • 107 men went led by Richard Grenville
  • made up soldiers, sailors, farmers, merchants etc.
• significance of colonisation:

  • undermining Spain - provided English with base to attack Spanish in New World, hoped to rival Spanish empire in long run
• Manteo and Wanchese:

  • 1484 expidition brought two Native Americans back to England
  • helped to teach Thomas Harriot Algonquian
  • were taught English
  • helped first English colonists make contact with Native Americans
  • helped to make English-Algonquian dictionary
• key leaders:

  • Richard Grenville - expedition commander
  • Ralph Lane - governor of Virginia
  • Thomas Harriot - translator and cartographer
• why did the voyage fail?

  • the voyage
  • lack of skills and experience
  • Native American attack
  • war with Spain
• the voyage:

  • colonists left England too late to reach Virgina to plant any crops
  • Tiger carried food, but was damaged, so food was ruined
  • English unable to provide for themselves
  • reliant on Native Ameircans for food
• lack of skills and experience:

  • English lacked skills
  • merchats and landowners lacked physical need for manual work
  • expected to use Native Americans as workers
  • first time establishing colony
  • soldiers could defend expedition but could not farm land
• Native American attack:

  • Native Americans were angered by demands for food from English
  • Native Americans believed English were supernatural as diseases from English killed Native Americans
  • Chief Wingina led attack on colonists
  • Wingina was killed
  • colonists had to leave Roanoake
• war with Spain:

  • from 1585, English were at war with Spain
  • threat of Armada meant few ships able to visit or resupply colonists
  • colonists vulnerable to attack and isolated
• second colony:

  • second colony was in 1587 to 1590
  • colonists were poor who wanted better life
  • guaranteed alot of land to farm
  • George Howe, adviser to English, found dead
  • killed by Native Americans
  • John White returned to Roanoke and found it deserted
  • Croatoan found carved onto post