Raleigh and Virgina

Question 1

How did England try to challenge Spains dominance as an imperial empire in the 1580s?

Answer 1

By establishing a colony in North America.

Question 2

What had England done in North America by the early 1580s?

Answer 2

They had established some territories but hadn’t managed to establish a successful colony yet.

Question 3

What did Drake claim on his way home from circumnavigation?

Answer 3

New Albion (in California)

Question 4

What did England claim in eastern Canada?

Answer 4

Newfoundland

Question 5

Who set out to establish a colony in Newfoundland and when? Did he succeed?

Answer 5

Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1583. He failed.

Question 6

Who did Elizabeth give permission to explore and colonise unclaimed territories after Gilbert failed?

Answer 6

Walter Raleigh

Question 7

Where did Elizabeth want Raleigh to establish a colony?

Answer 7

On the Atlantic coast of North America.

Question 8

How could an English economy in the Americas prove useful for England?

Answer 8

It would challenge Spains dominance in the Americas

It could be used as a base of attacking for Spanish treasure ships

The colony could be used as a source of raw materials that might be useful in future wars with Spain and provide opportunities to trade

Question 9

When did Raleigh send a fact finding mission to North America? Where did the fleet land?

Answer 9

1584, they landed on Roanoke Island

Question 10

How many ships did Raleigh send to Virginia in 1585? Who led them?

Answer 10

Five ships led by Sir Richard Grenville

Question 11

How many settlers (known) as planters tried to establish a permanent colony in Roanoke in 1585?

Answer 11

108

Question 12

What did Grenville do in 1585 while the settlers were in Virginia?

Answer 12

Went back to England for supplies.

Question 13

What were the conditions when Francis Drake visited Roanoke in 1586? What did the settlers do?

Answer 13

Grenville still hadn’t returned and the settlers were running low on supplies. Most of the settlers decided to return home with Drake although a small group of men were left to maintain the colony.

Question 14

What was found on the third expedition to Roanoke in 1587?

Answer 14

They found Roanoke deserted. It was thought that the men who stayed behind in 1586 were killed by local people.

Question 15

How many planters settled in Roanoke in 1587?

Answer 15

Around 100

Question 16

What was expected by the settlers in Roanoke in 1588? Why was it delayed?

Answer 16

They were expecting supplies but the fleet was delayed by the Spanish Armada.

Question 17

What happened when the supplies reached Roanoke in 1590? What did Roanoke become known as?

Answer 17

The settlers had all disappeared. Roanoke became known as the ‘Lost Colony’.

Question 18

How did lack of supplies lead to the failure of the Roanoke colonies?

Answer 18

The planters didn’t take enough supplies with them and found it difficult to grow food on Roanoke. This made them more vulnerable to the delay of the supply ships in 1588.

Question 19

Why did Raleigh’s settlements in Virginia fail?

Answer 19

• food supplies did not survive the journey
  -seeds were grown at the wrong time of year
  -disease
  -relations with native Americans deteriorated

Question 20

Positives of Raleigh’s expeditions

Answer 20

• laid foundations for the eventual colonisation of America by English
• returned a profit, due to captured Spanish ships
  -increased navigational knowledge