CHAPTER 2 English Settlements

Early Failures Sir Walter Raleigh named the area along the Atlantic Coast of North America “Virginia” after Queen Elizabeth, known as “the virgin queen.” Among these early failures was the mysterious Roanoke colony started in When the English returned to resupply the colony 3 years later, no trace of the colonists could be found.

Why did the English go to America? Economic problems in England – unemployment, many small farmers struggling In wealthy classes, plots of land were divided down generation after generation, leaving land scarce. Younger generations came for new land and adventure

Jamestown 1607 – English colonists establish the first surviving English colony, naming it and the James river after the King Jamestown faced numerous difficulties: It was swampy & mosquito filled, disease was common, some were too weak to work, while others searched for treasure instead of working, conflicts with powerful tribes were common due to the settlers raiding food John Rolfe helped cultivate tobacco, making Jamestown more profitable

Plymouth & Massachusetts Bay A group of religious separatists called the Puritans and 66 other settlers arrive in 1620, settling near modern-day Boston The area selected had been previously cleared the local tribes, many perished from exposure to European diseases, while the rest fled the area. Plymouth was also aided the local Wampanoag Tribe MA Bay colony evolved and grew – helped inspire the Great Migration (20,000 English venture to New England)