Roanoke Island - Research Paper Example

College: Roanoke Island The race for the newly discovered world, comprising of the modern day Americas, began in the later part of the 16th century. England had made numerous attempts to claim land across the Atlantic, long before it even won its conquest over Spain. For instance, in the year 1583 Sir Humphrey Gilbert laid claim over Newfoundland on behalf of the reigning Queen Elizabeth I. However, Sir Gilbert died before he could establish a colony. In the subsequent year, the Queen commissioned Sir Walter Raleigh to arrogate land in newly discovered North America. Sir Raleigh’s expedition was intended to ensure that England had a colony that would enable it to have a grip on the Americas. The foothold would also make it possible for England to exploit available resources, convert pagans to Christianity, claim territory and institute a base from which to strategically attack Spanish ships. However, as a result of poor associations with the indigenous populace, improper geographical timing of colony establishment and inefficient links with the parent country due to foreign conflicts, the settlers of this original English-American colony were destined to fail. The initiative of colonizing the North American coast was set in motion soon after Queen Elizabeth one gave an official charter to Sir Walter Raleigh to establish a colony in a suitable location. After acquiring formal approval from the Queen in 1584, Sir Raleigh created and funded a scouting expedition with the sole mandate of exploring the American coastline and finding a perfect spot to establish the proposed colony. The scout team, led by Captains Arthur Barlow and Phillip Amadas came back with a positive report of the location, that is, Roanoke Island; a land mass off the shore of contemporary North Carolina. The scouts described the Island with glowing terms, praising it for its fertility and pleasant nature. They also reported that Roanoke was occupied by friendly and loving people. Judging from the enthusiastic report, Raleigh and others decided that the Island’s sheltered and secure shores formed a perfect location to establish England’s maiden colony in this New World. In the year 1985, after receiving the Queen's financial support and blessing, the first boatload of colonists set sail for the North American coast (Clark n.pg). The initial 100 men, who went to Roanoke Island primarily comprised of soldiers. The men established a settlement on the northern side of Roanoke Island and immediately built a fort. Since they did not have sufficient supplies, these initial colonists exchanged trinkets and beads to the native populace for food and other basic necessities (Clark n.pg). As winter began and food increasingly became scarce, tension heightened between the locals and the English settlers. The expeditions also deteriorated the original kindness that the Native Americans felt toward the settlers. This is because the colonists regularly abducted tribal leaders with the intent of holding them in exchange for scarce supplies. The English settlers treated the locals with disrespect in spite of the fact that they relied on them for basic supplies. After suffering such a difficult winter, the supply ships still did not arrive as expected in spring. By this time there was actual conflict between the locals and the settlers. Following the constant war with Native Americans, deprivation of food and becoming impatient waiting for the overdue supplies fleet, the colonists decided to travel back home. The overdue supply ships arrived just two weeks later and found the colony abandoned. The fleet left about 15 men to take care of the English settlement in readiness for the next group or recruits (Kupperman 12-25). After the first failure, Sir Raleigh decided to take another attempt at English settlement in Roanoke. During this second attempt, which took place in 1587, Raleigh chose to mix up the prospective English settlement. The recruits comprised of ninety one men, seventeen women and nine children (Kupperman 26-27). Sir Raleigh even offered each prospective colonist a piece of land in the future city of Raleigh, which they were going to set up. This second group was led by John White, an English artist and mapmaker. The brave and optimistic new settlers reached Roanoke Island in July of the year 1587. The settlers had initially intended to stop briefly to replenish the fifteen soldiers’ supplies before moving inland. However, upon arriving, the settlers found little proof that the soldiers had even been there and they feared it was a time of the season that would pose too much danger to venture beyond the fort. The only physical evidence that the soldiers had been in this location was of one man’s bones. The new colonists had no choice but to settle on the deserted ruins that had been their predecessors’ homes. Shortly after the settlers arrived at Roanoke, White’s daughter delivered a baby girl. The baby, christened Virginia was the first English child to be born in North America. White and other explorers researched the Island and meticulously recorded their accounts of the Native Americans, fauna and flora. Thomas Hariot, a Scientist among the settlers also contributed extensively by studying the minerals and metals of Roanoke Island (Miller 35-43). This group of colonists still had strained relations with the local populace, who no longer trusted the English given the conflicts with the preceding settlers. Associations with Native Americans grew worse following continued miscommunication and the locals’ feeling like the English were nothing but intruders. The colonists also perpetuated actions that increased chances of their doom, such as attempting to dominate the locals instead of co-existing peacefully. The living conditions were also harsh and the English settlers quickly ran out of supplies. John White, by then the ruling governor of Roanoke Colony, had to travel back to England to replenish the colony’s supplies. The settlers were left with explicit instructions on what to do if they decided to move or if they got troubled. They had to leave a note and incorporate a Maltese cross, if they were under distress. Even though John White and the supply ships were to make a quick run, a series of ill-fated events led to an unprecedented three year delay. Of particular concern was England’s armed struggle with Spain, which prompted White to stay in England before travelling back to Roanoke. When White eventually travelled to the North Carolina Island, he found the settlement area abandoned. His family and entire community were missing and the colony was in complete ruins. In his letter reporting the disappearance, White indicated that there was no physical evidence like in the case of the preceding group of settlers where bones of a soldier were recovered. There was also no sign of distress since he could not see any Maltese cross. The only thing White saw was the word "CROATOAN" on the gatepost and letters "CRO" etched in a tree near the water. White had no choice but to leave Roanoke Island without searching for the colony because of bad weather. Even though he returned several times to look for his friends, he never found them (Miller 45-55). The Lost Roanoke Island Colony is still a mystery more than four centuries later. Although there are many theories attempting to explain the colony’s disappearance, like starvation, intermarriage with friendly Natives and attack by the Spaniards, the colony was doomed to fail given poor relations with locals, poor timing and poor connection to England. Works Cited Clark, Josh. What happened to the lost colony at Roanoke? 2013. 4 November 2013. Kupperman, Karen. Roanoke: The Abandoned Colony. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers 2007. Print. Miller, Lee. Roanoke: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Colony. New York, NY: Penguin Books. 2002. Print. Read More