The Southern Colonies
5th Grade Informational Reading Texts
The English wanted to capitalize on all of the new-found wealth that was coming out of the new lands. Queen Elizabeth I gave Sir Walter Raleigh a charter. This document granted him the right to establish a colony in North America, to find gold and other resources. This colony, Virginia, was named in honor of the queen. Funding for the travel and development would be left to Raleigh. He gathered up 100 men, who had little to no experience in surviving off any land or region and they set sail. Raleigh decided to establish this first English settlement on Roanoke Island, in what is now the state of North Carolina.
Unfortunately, it was too late in the season to plant crops. The local native people assisted the settlers and helped in providing food. In spite of their generosity, Ralph Lane, who was the leader, had little respect for the tribe. His conflicts with them led to his death. Following this, the tribe then refused to assist the settlers, leaving them with only the supplies they had brought from England. Thus, when Sir Francis Drake, another explorer, arrived in the area in 1586, the settlers begged him to take them home.
The first English attempt at settling the "New World" was a failure.
In the summer of 1587 Sir Walter Raleigh made a second attempt at settling at Roanoke. He financed a voyage of 150 persons. They arrived in late July. John White was in charge as governor. He had been accompanied on the voyage by his daughter Eleanor Dare and her husband. Shortly after their arrival, Eleanor gave birth to the first English child born on new world soil. Her parents named her Virginia.
The colonists went to work fixing up the abandoned settlement, repairing the houses they found and preparing a home. This group was different from the first, as it included women and children. So, life in the colony began to take shape. Near the end of summer it was decided that more supplies would be needed before winter. John White set sail for England and the much needed supplies. When White arrived back in England, he found the country at war with Spain. This prevented his return to Roanoke with the supplies. It took nearly three years before he managed to make it back. What he found was curious and would, to this day, leave historians asking the question, "What became of the settlers of Roanoke?" Very few clues to their fate were discovered. Two carvings in trees were found. One read "CRO" and the other "CROATOAN."
The Croatoan were a local American Indian group. Had the settlers been attacked? Was the decision made to join this tribe? These questions remain unanswered today. Another clue was the discovery of some family treasures White had left buried at the settlement. The maps and drawings were destroyed, and the books were missing their covers. White returned to England. Neither he nor Raleigh had the funding to make a third attempt. The Roanoke settlement was abandoned.
Unfortunately, it was too late in the season to plant crops. The local native people assisted the settlers and helped in providing food. In spite of their generosity, Ralph Lane, who was the leader, had little respect for the tribe. His conflicts with them led to his death. Following this, the tribe then refused to assist the settlers, leaving them with only the supplies they had brought from England. Thus, when Sir Francis Drake, another explorer, arrived in the area in 1586, the settlers begged him to take them home.
The first English attempt at settling the "New World" was a failure.
In the summer of 1587 Sir Walter Raleigh made a second attempt at settling at Roanoke. He financed a voyage of 150 persons. They arrived in late July. John White was in charge as governor. He had been accompanied on the voyage by his daughter Eleanor Dare and her husband. Shortly after their arrival, Eleanor gave birth to the first English child born on new world soil. Her parents named her Virginia.
The colonists went to work fixing up the abandoned settlement, repairing the houses they found and preparing a home. This group was different from the first, as it included women and children. So, life in the colony began to take shape. Near the end of summer it was decided that more supplies would be needed before winter. John White set sail for England and the much needed supplies. When White arrived back in England, he found the country at war with Spain. This prevented his return to Roanoke with the supplies. It took nearly three years before he managed to make it back. What he found was curious and would, to this day, leave historians asking the question, "What became of the settlers of Roanoke?" Very few clues to their fate were discovered. Two carvings in trees were found. One read "CRO" and the other "CROATOAN."
The Croatoan were a local American Indian group. Had the settlers been attacked? Was the decision made to join this tribe? These questions remain unanswered today. Another clue was the discovery of some family treasures White had left buried at the settlement. The maps and drawings were destroyed, and the books were missing their covers. White returned to England. Neither he nor Raleigh had the funding to make a third attempt. The Roanoke settlement was abandoned.