What were the causes of the disappearance of the Roanoke Colony?
The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the causes of the disappearance of the Roanoke Colony. In order to determine the reason(s) for the end of the colony, the investigation will delve into factors that affected the colony before and during the time of its disappearance.
The two sources that I have decided to evaluate, The Colony at Roanoke by Ralph Lane and a diary entry from John White, provide accounts of first-hand experiences with the Roanoke Colony. Both documents are essential in understanding the beginning of the settlement.
The Colony at Roanoke, written by Ralph Lane in 1586, is a primary source about the first colony at Roanoke. As one of the leaders of the settlement,
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Lane is reporting to Sir Walter Raleigh regarding vital information involving the colony. The letter to Raleigh is dated a year after Roanoke was first established. Lane writes with the intention of informing Raleigh on the experiences the colonists encountered. The Colony at Roanoke’s value is increased by the fact that the document is a primary source. Another reason that the document has value is because the source offers the perspective of a person who has first-hand experiences with Roanoke. Limitations are placed on the source due to the possible agenda of Lane. He might have an unknown agenda that influenced the information that he included in the article. The diary entry of John White, compiled into the Voyages of the English Nation, III by Richard Hakluyt, is a primary source from 1590. White writes about traveling back to the colony at Roanoke after a period away. He relates his experiences and observations of the abandoned colony. The value of the document is increased due to the source being a first-hand account. Because the diary entry is a primary source, the value is raised even more. White recounts his memories of his journey back to the colony. Due to the report being written after the dates listed in the document, White’s recollections may be incorrect or embellished. Therefore, limitations may be placed on the source because it is impossible to know which details are accurate. Word Count: 363 Section 2: Investigation The Roanoke Colony was first settled in 1585 by a group led by Ralph Lane under the ultimate authority of Sir Walter Raleigh. Raleigh had been given an order by Queen Elizabeth I to establish a colony in North America, or else he would lose his right to colonization. Roanoke was the first English settlement in America. It lasted a total of 10 months (Hakluyt 103). The colonists’ relationships with the Native Americans in the area were considerably strained. Lane, who was thought of as volatile and quick to anger, did not help relations. Wingina, an Indian chief, made an attempt to organize local tribes to attack Lane's men. In retaliation, Lane killed Wingina on June 10, 1586, before Wingina was able to drum up enough support. The day following the chief's death, Sir Francis Drake arrived to the colony. Drake promised Lane and the colonists that he would leave them supplies before departing. However, these plans were diverted after a hurricane took out the ship carrying the supplies. After this event, Lane and the other settlers decided to leave the colony. On July 22, 1587, John White led a second group of settlers to Roanoke. While the first colonists were made up of men hungry for gold, the second group was composed of families. The initial destination for explorers was the Chesapeake Bay area. However, after encountering many issues, one of the captains decided to sail the ship to Roanoke instead. As a result of the negative history between the previous settlers and the Native Americans in the area, the new colonists experienced conflict with the local tribes. Within just a few months of their arrival, the colonists experienced another issue when they began running out of supplies. In late 1587, the settlers urged White to travel back to England to obtain materials. Unfortunately for the colonists, White arrived back in England just in time for the Spanish Armada. As a method of defense, the Queen demanded that no ships be allowed to leave English shores. It would be three years until a supply ship could reach Roanoke. By that time, the settlers had disappeared from the colony with little trace of them remaining (Purchas). When White returned to Roanoke, he discovered a colony that was deserted. All of the former two-story houses had been dismantled. The small boats and canyons that were previously located near the bay could no longer be found. Carved on a post was the word “CROATOAN.” A nearby tree also had the letters “CRO.” The colonists had mysteriously vanished. White never searched for the missing settlers. Citing bad weather, White decided to return to England instead (Hakluyt 53). Many theories exist regarding the causes of the Roanoke colony’s disappearance.
One notion suggests that due to the settlement experiencing famine, they traveled elsewhere in search of sustenance. The reason for White originally returning to England was because the colony desperately needed supplies, such as food. Therefore, the colonists may have been forced to leave their settlement to find sources of nourishment when he did not return. Going against this theory is the fact that the houses in Roanoke had been taken down. If the colonists had been struggling to eat, it is unlikely that they would decide to tire themselves out by dismantling their settlement …show more content…
(Quinn). Another hypothesis is that the Spanish destroyed the Roanoke colony.
Earlier in the 1500s, the Spanish massacred the people of the French colony, Fort Caroline. Proponents of this theory believe that the Roanoke could have met the same fate. However, this theory is unlikely because Spain was said to still be in search of the Roanoke colony years after it was discovered to be deserted (Lorant 146).
The most prevalent theory states that the colonists integrated themselves with a friendly, local tribe. Search parties were sent out by members of the Jamestown colony to find members of Roanoke. In their journeys, they talked to Native Americans who told stories of nearby tribes that spoke English. A sighting of a fair-skinned boy with blonde hair, dressed as a native was reported. A continuation of the theory states that the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina is descended from the Roanoke colonists. The tribe and the colony share a small number of surnames
(Purchas). In recent years, yet another theory has grown in popularity. White suggested that the Roanoke colonists merely decided to travel away from the bay, which had been White’s plan for the settlement. In 2012, evidence supporting theory was found. A symbol on White’s map of Roanoke and surrounding land was discovered sixty miles from the Roanoke colony. Some experts believe that the figure could represent the location of where the colonists traveled. For the past two years, archaeologists have been digging in the area marked on the map, known as Site X. Evidence dug up at the location that gives credence to the theory. Archaeologists discovered over 30 artifacts believed to originate from European and Native American sources. The archaeologists believe that the relics were created a great deal of years after the Roanoke colony disappeared. Along with the artifacts, archaeologists also dug up border ware, or ceramics from between the mid-16th and late 17th centuries. The border ware is possible evidence of the Roanoke colony’s presence near Site X (Basu). The lost colony of Roanoke is a mystery that historians continue to investigate. Even today, over 400 years later, new evidence is being discovered that can shed light on what happened to the colonists. Many theories persist today regarding the reasons for the settlement’s disappearance. While some of these notions are easily explained away, others are worth considering. However, few have the proof to back them up. Based on the evidence, the most likely scenario is probably a variation of the colonists of Roanoke assimilating themselves into the local Native American tribes. The artifacts discovered at Site X suggest that the Roanoke colony did not simply die off. Instead, it supports the theory that the bloodlines continued on for many years. In addition, the existence of the Lumbee tribe gives credibility to the idea. Word Count: 998 Section 3: Reflection I used a wide array of sources in my investigation, including primary sources such as The Colony at Roanoke by Ralph Lane, and secondary sources like the journal articles regarding the topic. A challenge for historians that I discovered involves the interpretation of primary sources. It is important to keep in mind any potential bias of the source when analyzing the item. Everyone is biased in some way or another, so it is essential to remember that fact when determining the value of a document. Any bias can affect the value of the source. While some types of bias can be helpful to the historian, such as when analyzing propaganda, it also often causes issues for the historian. Creators of primary sources are not the only biased ones. Historians also have to deal with their personal opinions regarding the topic that they are investigating. Part of the job of a historian is to do their best to stay neutral when discussing or analyzing a subject. However, that is rarely ever completely possible. Bias, even if it is at a minimum, will almost always be found in an analysis. I had a difficult time trying to keep bias out of my investigation and I am not sure if I completely succeeded. On a similar note, the role of the historian is to present and analyze a historical event. Historians are not meant to pass judgement on such events. Instead, their job is to study and evaluate the details of the situation.
Summary: This book starts well before Roanoke was founded. It detailed how, at the time, England was not a superpower. Spain and France were the most dominant of the European countries, but internal conflicts in France made it weak, while Spain was getting extremely wealthy off of Indians and the Aztecs. England saw this as an opportunity to expand into the New World, and had Walter Raleigh head the trip. The main goals of the colony were to expanding their efforts of privateering, with a sustainable colony as an after thought. It was initial devised as a way to intercept merchant ships more effectively from other countries (mainly Spain) and be a short-term base of operations. Most if not all of the men brought over had only military experience, so they struggled with building proper housing, getting clean water, and growing crops. Ultimately, conflict erupted when the Indians grew weary of giving such a large amount of supplies to the colonists, and many high ranking officials died on the Indian side. The settlement was abandoned due to lack of supplies. After this unsuccessful attempt, John White lead another group intended to be a permanent settlement to Roanoke, and the prototype of plantations he u...
Breen, T. H., and Stephen Innes. Myne Owne Ground: Race and Freedom on Virginia 's Eastern Shore, 1640-1676. 25th anniversary ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. 142 pages (kindle edition).
In 1587, John White lead a crew of a hundred and seventeen to the island of Roanoke, hoping to form England’s first colony in America. The travel to Roanoke Island didn't trouble John White and they successfully set anchor on Roanoke in July 22, 1587. The Colony worked out exactly as planned until the colony ran out of supplies, forcing John White to sail back to England to collect more supplies then return home with the supplies. The
Looking at the early English colonies in the Chesapeake Bay region, it’s clear that the English had not learned any lessons from their experiences at Roanoke. Poor planning, a bad location, unrealistic expectations, flawed leadership, unsuccessful relations with the local Indians, and no hope of finding the mineral wealth the Spanish found in Mexico, all contributed to failure. The first colonists in the Chesapeake region were not only ignorant, lazy and unambitious, but their attempts were hampered before they had begun. However, a solution to these problems was found in a single plant: tobacco. Nevertheless, this cash crop ultimately created numerous problems for the colonists. The ignorance and indolent acts of the Chesapeake colonists to unsuccessfully restore the colony by themselves led to the demise of the colony as a whole especially regarding the planting of agricultural goods for food.
The Jamestown Project discusses the monumental landmark, the colony of Jamestown, was in Atlantic History. The story of Jamestown is told in a much more authentic, elaborate style than our textbooks has presented. As Kupperman points out, Jamestown was not only important to United State’s history but also to British history. From the motivations to the lasting effects, she gives an accurate account of all components involved in Jamestown. Also, there is a chapter devoted to the Native American experience, which shows a non-Western view of events. The book is written in a format that is easily read but also compacted with information. More importantly she puts Jamestown in its right place in United State’s and British history, as the foundation of colonial United States and the British Empire.
The first effort by the English to establish a colony in the New World was when Sir Walter Raleigh issued a charter to establish a colony at Roanoke. It was the responsibility of Raleigh to make the necessary provisions to complete the journeys to the New World and accomplish the goals of the charter. This entailed hiring ship captains and their crews, recruiting possible colonists, purchasing food and other supplies, and finding those who would invest capital in the missions. Raleigh however did not actively participate in the journeys to Roanoke Island; he was just the organizer and major financier.
In “A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson,” Mary Rowlandson, a Puritan mother from Lancaster, Massachusetts, recounts the invasion of her town by Indians in 1676 during “King Philip’s War,” when the Indians attempted to regain their tribal lands. She describes the period of time where she is held under captivity by the Indians, and the dire circumstances under which she lives. During these terrible weeks, Mary Rowlandson deals with the death of her youngest child, the absence of her Christian family and friends, the terrible conditions that she must survive, and her struggle to maintain her faith in God. She also learns how to cope with the Indians amongst whom she lives, which causes her attitude towards them to undergo several changes. At first, she is utterly appalled by their lifestyle and actions, but as time passes she grows dependent upon them, and by the end of her captivity, she almost admires their ability to survive the harshest times with a very minimal amount of possessions and resources. Despite her growing awe of the Indian lifestyle, her attitude towards them always maintains a view that they are the “enemy.”
Smith, John. "Settlement Of Jamestown - 1607." The National Center for Public Policy Research. http://www.nationalcenter.org/SettlementofJamestown
4.Roanoke Island— 12 mi (19 km) long and 3 mi (4.8 km) wide, off the NE coast of North Carolina between Albemarle and Pimlico sounds, site of the earliest English colony in North America. The first colonists, sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh landed in Aug. 1585 but returned to England in 1586. A second group, arriving in 1587, disappeared by the time additional supplies were brought from England in 1591. Artifacts from the lost colony are displayed in Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on the island.
The colonists of Roanoke disappeared mysteriously around 1590. All the colonists were gone without a trace and without any exact way of letting anyone know what happened to them. When the governor of Roanoke, John White, arrived to Roanoke in 1590,there was only one clue about the disappearance that remained. The letters ''CRO''were written on a tree nearby. No one had knowledge of what happened to the colonists or where they might have gone. The question that is still being asked is,'' What happened in the time between when White left and returned?'' and , '' How did the events leading up to and after Roanoke affect the later colonies?'' There were eleven children, seventeen women, and ninety men that were supposed to be in Roanoke , but no remained. It is a mystery that hasn't been solved up to this day.
When most people think of the early settlement they think of the first successful settlement, Jamestown, but this was not the first settlement in the New World. The settlement at Roanoke was the first attempt to colonize the New World. The settlement at Roanoke is often referred to as the “Lost Colony” because of its unusual disappearance. The reason people often do not know about the first settlement at Roanoke because it was abandoned, forgotten, and lost. The Roanoke settlement was located on an island on the northern coast of what is now North Carolina. A few more than a hundred English men first settled the colony at Roanoke Island in 1584. The conditions were harsh and between the lack of supplies and the troubles with natives of the area the settlement was all but doomed from the start. Three years after the initial settlement was founded, in 1587, more English arrived this time there were one hundred and ten colonists that consisted not just of men, but of women and children as well. Women and children were brought to the New World so that the settlement could become a fully functioning society. Of course this idea obviously did not work out as planned. The war going on in Europe between the English and the Spanish caused a delay of more supplies and people. If there had not been a prolonged delay in the resupplying process the entire course of American history may not have been what we know it to be now. If the war had started any earlier or later then people might have known more about the original first settlement of the New World. All the evidence left when people returned to Roanoke following the war in Europe was the word “CROATOAN” carved into a tree. Historians believe these to be marks left by the Croatoan Indians...
Often when looking at American history, people tend to lump all the characters and actors involved as similar. This is especially the case in regards to Early American Colonial history. Because the Puritan communities that grew rapidly after John Winthrop’s arrival in 1630 often overshadow the earlier colony at Plymouth, many are lead to assume that all settlers acted in similar ways with regard to land use, religion, and law. By analyzing the writings of William Bradford and John Winthrop, one begins to see differing pictures of colonization in New England.
Stick, David. Roanoke Island: The Beginnings of English America. Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina P, 1983. Print.
...ve Indians. From the copious use of examples in Winthrop's work, and the concise detail in Rowlandson's narrative, one can imbibe such Puritans values as the mercy of God, place in society, and community. Together, these three elements create a foundation for Puritan thought and lifestyle in the New World. Though A Model of Christian Charity is rather prescriptive in its discussion of these values, Rowlandson's captivity narrative can certainly be categorized as descriptive; this pious young woman serves as a living example of Winthrop's "laws," in that she lives the life of a true Puritan. Therefore, both 17th century works are extremely interrelated; in order to create Winthrop's model community, one must have faith and closely follow Puritan ideals, as Rowlandson has effectively done in her A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.
The first settlement was built by the English and consisted of 117 men, women, and children on Roanoke Island; which is off the coast of North Carolina. Within three years all of the colonists had disappeared leaving no trace of what happened to them. Analysis of tree rings has shown that Roanoke Island had the worst three-year drought in the past 800 years during the time they settled and disappeared. This is just one of the many challenges that colonists faced.