Roanoke Flashcards
Who was Humphrey Gilbert?
Gilbert was a Protestant Englishman, driven by his hatred of the Spanish
What did Gilbert do?
He searched for a sea route around the top of North America to provide England with a trade route to China
What happened on Gilbert’s first attempt, in 1579, to find a trade route to China through North America?
His first attempt in 1579 was a disaster. Only the ship captained by his half brother, Walter Raleigh, made it across the Atlantic
Where did Gilbert claim land for the queen on his second voyage in June 1583?
He claimed land in Newfoundland by digging a piece of turf and erecting a post with the arms of England engraved in lead. He did not establish a colony because the climate was cold and food was scarce
What happened on Gilbert’s return to England after his second attempt?
One of his ships was wrecked, killing 80 men. Gilbert also drowned on the return voyage.
Why did Walter Raleigh want to start a colony in America?
He thought that America would be the gateway to the riches of Asia. As a loyal courtier he hoped to find silver and gold for Elizabeth and wealth and fame for himself.
Why did Walter Raleigh decide that Roanoke would be a good place to found a colony?
He was convinced by a survey in April 1584. It also had a natural harbour and the local people, the Algonquian, were friendly
Why was the territory named Virginia?
The territory was named Virginia in honour of the ‘virgin queen’
Richard Hakluyt wrote a pamphlet about the benefits of colonising America. What were the three benefits?
- Goods that could be brought back and sold
- Potential for missionary work
- Opportunities to attack Spanish treasure ships
Why did Walter Raleigh not lead the expedition and not go to Roanoke?
The queen did not want to part with her favourite, Raleigh, so Richard Grenville and Ralph Lane led the expedition of 600 soldiers, sailors and colonists
Who also went to Roanoke?
A scientist, Thomas Harriot
An artist, John White
They took these two people to study and record the people, landscape and wildlife
The colony in Roanoke _________. The colonists fell out with the ___________________ and had to leave after one year.
The colony in Roanoke failed. The colonists fell out with the Algonquian and had to leave after one year.
When did the colonists set out to Roanoke?
They set out from Plymouth in April 1585
What happened to Grenville during the journey to Roanoke?
Grenville’s ship got split from the group
In July 1585 they arrived at Roanoke. What happened?
The fleet got stuck on sandbanks in the storm and lost many of their supplies, including seeds
