The colonisation of Virginia including reasons for colonising, planning and organisation, reasons for failure - Early Elizabethan England

Question 1

Who was Walter Raleigh?

Answer 1

Water Raleigh was born into a gentrys family in around 1552 and died on the 29th of October 1618. He was born in Devon.He was also well connected as Catherine’s aunt had been Elizabeths I’s governess while a princess.

Question 2

Why was Raleigh so significant in the establishment of the Virginia Colony?

Answer 2

• He raised the funds
• Set up a fact finding expedition (Manteo and Wanchese-native Americans that came to England)
• Persuaded people to go
• Appointed the governor, Ralph Lane - Developed a ‘blueprint’ for colonisation that was used in later attempts

Question 3

Why was establishing a colony in virginia seen as important?

Answer 3

• A base to attack Spanish colonies from
• A base for privateering (piracy)
• It acts as an example for future colonies
• North Americans could choose English traders over Spanish traders
• England would no longer need to rely on Europe for trade if it could control the trade from the ‘New World’

Question 4

What are problems that could arise with colonising Virginia?

Answer 4

• Make sure you bring the right people for the colony
• Ships can get sunk and damaged
• Supplies can rot and run out quickly
• If you are slowed down and delayed, they can’t sow the crops in time
• May get attacked by pirates or Spanish
• Potential for conflict with indigenous people

Question 5

What was Raleighs preparation for the colony?

Answer 5

• Given a grant to explore North America in 1584
• Fact finding mission in 1584
• Used positive reports to persuade people to move to the colony - convinced them they would be rich
• Two Native Americans, Manteo and Wanchese were brought back (helped with the language and made links with their people)
• Invested his own money as well as promises to investors of a share in his privateering profits

Question 6

Why did the attempts to colonise Virginia fail?

Answer 6

They weren’t well prepared to go to Roanoke Island in 1585 as they were late to plant crops, they only had 107300 colonists and there were leadership issues with Greenville and Lane

Question 7

Were the colonists prepared?

Answer 7

Richard Greenwille - Expedition commander, - experienced soldier, adventurous and hot headed, didn’t get on with Ralph. known to be feared more than loved

Ralph Lane - Govenor of Virginia - expert in fort building.Explorer and battle hardened soldier who could rise to a challenge. Enjoyed hardsrip and pitting his wits against nature with his can do attitude

Thomas Harriot - Translator and Cartographer - Worked with Manteo and Wanchese (Native Amuricans brought to England in 1584 to learn Algonquin, with whom he formed a strong bond. He understood navigation and Skilled at making maps.

Question 8

Why was the voyage a reason for the failure of the Virginia colonisation?

Answer 8

• Vital supplies on board the tiger ruined ( all put on one ship)
• Illness which weakened colonists
• Set off too late to plant crops

Question 9

Why was the native americans a reason for the failure of the Virginia colonisation?

Answer 9

• There were some between them and the English
• Many died from strange causes

Question 10

Why was the colonists a reason for the failure of the Virginia colonisation?

Answer 10

• Poor discipline
• Inexperience led to lots of mistakes
• Could not cope with the hardship
• Wrong mix of people and skills
• Many not prepared to put necessary work in

Question 11

Why was inexperience a reason for the failure of the Virginia colonisation?

Answer 11

• Poor choice of colonists
• First attempt at establishing a colony led to lots of mistakes being made