On an Island
What present-day state is home to Roanoke Island?
North Carolina - Roanoke Island is a small island just inside of the Outer Banks between the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.
Why is this second attempt at colonizing Roanoke Island called the "Lost Colony?"
The colonists disappeared leaving very few clues as to what might have happened to them. Theories as to their fate vary wildly and are still being explored today, almost 500 years later!
Who was the daughter of Chief Powhatan that supposedly helped save John Smith after he was captured by talking her dad and brother out of hurting him?
Pocahontas - and unlike the Disney movie, their romance was incredibly unlikely due to an extreme age difference and John Smith's tendency to exaggerate.
He was declared "Lord of Virginia" when he was knighted. The North Carolina capital city is named for him.
Sir Walter Raleigh - English gentlemen, soldier, writer, explorer, politician who was given special power to help colonize the New World.
What is a colony?
a colony is a new settlement or territory controlled by a country/kingdom in another land
What country's "armada" did the Roanoke colonists encounter and battle while at sea on their voyage?
Spain - the Spanish Armada of war ships often patrolled the Caribbean and American coastlines.
What was the main clue left behind?
"CROATOAN" carved into a tree, and "CRO" carved into a palisade (fence post of a fort) - clues like this had been agreed on ahead of time, and if the colonists were in danger they were supposed to include a cross with their message.
What shape was James Fort?
Triangular - a triangle made sense because they could have one corner (the corners held cannons on top of bulwarks) facing the wilderness to combat Native American attacks and then the front face could have two cannons on that side trained to face any would-be attackers from sea.
She was given the nickname "the virgin Queen" because of her supposed celibacy.
Queen Elizabeth I - not only was her virginity celebrated, but she also never married nor had any children (duh, I guess).
a charter is a legal document or decree that comes from a King/Queen or other ruler that gives you permission to start a colony in another place that they would control/govern
Who was the governor of the first attempt at colonizing Roanoke Island?
Ralph Lane - he was chosen by the Sir Walter Raleigh in order to lead the men who first went to Roanoke Island.
What weather phenomenon did the colonists suffer through that kept them from successfully growing enough crops to survive?
Drought - the worst in 800 years! Scientists in the 20th century determined that the colonists just happened to arrive in 1587 which was marked by the lowest rainfall total in almost a millennium.
Who introduced tobacco to the colony, and would later marry the daughter of a local Powhatan Indian Chief?
John Rolfe - it is likely that he illegally traded with a Spanish explorer or stole the original tobacco seeds, as Spain had strict control over the tobacco crop and punished those who shared it by death.
Who was an early leader at Jamestown that is said to have declared "he that will not work shall not eat," but he probably exaggerated about romance with a Native American princess?
John Smith - writer, famed exaggerator, soldier, and leader in Jamestown that is given credit for negotiating trade with Chief Powhatan.
Define Push and Pull migration factors.
Both of these influence the mass movement of people throughout history. Push factors = drive or force you to leave the place you are currently. Pull factors = draw or attract you to a new place.
What new crops did the first Roanoke colonists bring back to Europe? (name all 3!)
Tobacco, maize (or corn), and potatoes - these were not only new to England, but would become extremely popular in Europe over the next several hundred years.
Who was the colony's governor that went back to England for supplies - a trip that lasted over 3 years?
John White - White was caught up in England because of war with Spain. This kept him from getting back to resupply the colony that held his daughter (Eleonore), his son-in-law (Ananias), and their daughter, Virginia Dare, who was the first baby born in the New World to European parents.
What was the name of the joint-stock company that was given the charter to create the Jamestown colony?
Virginia Company of London - sometimes just called the Virginia Company (even though there were multiple of those, just with different "of ####" at the end), they were responsible for the charter to settle not only Jamestown but many colonies that would follow.
He was an English explorer that rerouted his expedition to Roanoke Island to help the colonists evacuate back to England.
Sir Francis Drake - he was on a return trip from pillaging and conquering in the Caribbean and South America, and might have even had slaves and refugees on board that mysteriously disappeared.
What are joint-stock companies?
a joint-stock company is made up of investors who pool their money together in order to pay for supplies, ships, captains, etc. to go form new colonies in hopes of the colonies making money to return to the investors
Approximately how many men went on this first, mostly military expedition to Roanoke Island?
600 - most of these were soldiers, but also included were scientists (like metallurgists), historians, and artists.
Where were the colonists originally supposed to go to settle the "Cittie of Raleigh?"
Chesapeake Bay area - the trip was originally supposed to end in the Chesapeake Bay (present-day Virginia/Maryland) but during the voyage, they decided they would be better off staying at Roanoke.
What was the name of the first representative government in the New World, where men who owned land would choose representatives to make decisions for the colony?
House of Burgesses - this was modelled after the House of Commons in England, which was 1 of 2 houses of British Parliament that included regular people that had been chosen to represent other regular people. This would also serve as a model for other colonies to create self-governing groups.
He was Scottish royalty that was chosen as the successor to Queen Elizbeth I since she did not have any direct heirs.
King James I - his reign is marked by continued exploration and also some trouble with the Anglican and Catholic church over interpretation of the Bible.
What is an isthmus?
a narrow strip of land that connects two larger land masses, with sea/ocean on either side