Britain’s 1st Colonies

Roanoke 3 expeditions to Roanoke Amadas and Barlowe – July, 1584. Explored parts of Virginia for a good spot for a colony, good harbor for trade ships, good spot to attack New Spain Ralph Lane colony – 1585, This group was made up of soldiers and couldn’t stop fighting and wouldn’t do any manual labor needed to ensure the colony was able to sustain itself John White Colony – 1587, 115 average everyday people (farmers, carpenters, etc) White returns to England in late 1587 to ask for more supplies, he cannot return until 1590 because of a naval war with Spain Finds no one, only CRO and Croatoan carved in places, had to return home

Sir Walter Raleigh Raleigh paid for all 3 expeditions with his own money. No return meant he took a major financial hit Later attempts by England to start a colony would require that wealthy people didn’t lose a ton of money Joint Stock Companies!!

Jamestown Started in 1607 by the Virginia Company of London Arrived May, too late to plant crops and most refused to do manual labor 2/3 died before a supply ship came in 1608 John Smith takes control, befriends local tribe (Pocahontas) Smith gets injured and returns to England, Jamestown falls apart with him While waiting for more supplies, only 60 of the 214 colonists survive New supplies come, along with John Rolfe who develops a new tobacco plant This makes Jamestown a successful colony

Plymouth Pilgrims were members of the Church of England who didn’t like how Catholic it still was Wanted to separate from the Church and start their own, “better” version Left country to avoid persecution, went to Netherlands where religious laws were freer Left because children were becoming “too Dutch” Sailed for Virginia in 1620 Blown off course, landed in Plymouth (much farther north) Had to create their own laws (Mayflower Compact, first democratic government in new world)

Plymouth (cont’d) Arrived too late (November, 1620) to plant crops First winter was brutal, 45/102 died March, 1621 they made contact with the natives in the area, some of whom could speak English!! Governor Carver negotiated peace with them Natives taught them how to farm and hunt and find food in the area Did not starve the following winter, “First thanksgiving” Fur, lumber and fish became the source of income for this colony to send back to

What makes a colony successful? After looking at the failure of Roanoke and the eventual successes of Jamestown and Plymouth, there seems to be a checklist of about 4-5 things that a colony needed to do in order to survive in the new world. List them 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.