The Lost Colony of Roanoke - Essay Example

Section/# The Lost Colony of Roanoke The mystery of the “lost colony of Roanoke” continues to intrigue historians that seek to answer this riddle. As a function of seeking to understand this historical occurrence to a more full and complete degree, the following analysis will discuss and analyze the historical backdrop during and preceding time in which the disappearance of the colonists was noted. By performing such a unit of analysis, it will be possible for the reader to come to a more informed understanding concerning the way in which likely scenarios could have contributed to the disappearance that was noted by the English relief fleet arrived with 115 further colonists in 1585. Although it is not possible to solve this particular mystery without concrete forensic evidence or the discovery of new information, the discussion that will be presented seeks to define a likely scenario that was the result of situations that were recorded by several individuals and represented within the history of the Roanoke colonists. Before delving directly into the issue, it is necessary to appreciate that the colony of Roanoke was a charter colony; established by Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth I. As a charter colony, it was intended as a foothold within the New World and the potential challenge to Spain’s continue development within the region. It was the hope of Queen Elizabeth I, and Sir Walter Raleigh that the Roanoke colony would be able to provide a relatively quick return on investment in English. Whereas it is true that the coffers of Queen Elizabeth I were not shallow, these undertakings and planting colonies around the world were specifically expensive and required the dedication of resources, manpower, and ships; all of these being resources that were desired and demanded by different individuals and power throughout the kingdom. As Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth I shared a “special relationship”, and one that many analysts believe could have been sexual, the agreement to provide Raleigh with the necessary resources might not have been performed out of due diligence or based upon the possibility of profitability (Haskell, 2012). Regardless of the rationale, Queen Elizabeth the I provided Sir Walter Raleigh with five ships and a contingent of colonists and supplies that were directed to establish a preliminary colony in North America. The general agreement was that these colonists would be performing two distinct functions at the same time. The first function was to determine whether or not an English colony in North America could be economically viable and the secondary function was to discourage further Spanish development northwards. As such, it was agreed that these five ships would first adventure to Puerto Rico where they would regroup in the eventuality that any of them became separated during the long voyage across the Atlantic. After three of the ships arrived, preliminary accommodations were made within Puerto Rico and export was hastily built. Eventually, with time dragging on, it became clear to the leadership of this party that the two remaining ships must have been lost; as they were not yet arriving at the designated rendezvous and Puerto Rico. The second phase of the journey consisted of these three ships and their personnel journeying from Puerto Rico to the island of Roanoke North Carolina; and modern-day Dare County North Carolina. Upon arriving, the colonists again built a fort that they hoped would protect them against any incursions the natives might make. As with so many of the colonial ventures, the colonists initially hoped for good relations with the nation’s and even went so far as to host the feast in which the two peoples could come to know each other. However, a generally agreed-upon historical fact was that at some point during this feast a silver cup went missing. The natives were quickly blamed for the theft and as a result entire village was razed and burned to the ground; with the possibility of deaths of many young people that were unable to escape fires. Naturally, such an action was both provocative and uncalled for. As a direct result of this, attacks came to be common place between the natives and colonists. One particularly large and coordinated attack was repulsed in the fall of the first year the colonists resided in Roanoke. The most part, the colony was neither successful nor an abject failure. Towards the beginning of the next year, said Francis Drake, returning from plundering the Spanish fleet in the Caribbean, offered the remaining colonists the opportunity to return to England; a chance that the majority of these colonists readily agreed upon. With only a small contingent of men less Roanoke, Sir Francis Drake returned to England and brought with him some of the potatoes, tobacco, and furs that the colonists had produced while they were at Roanoke. Seeing the fact that it was possible for a colony to exist within Roanoke, Queen Elizabeth the first provided further financial resources, further ships, and further supplies to refit the colony and increase its overall size. As compared to colony of Jamestown several years later, Roanoke was positioned in a strategically important location and was able to maintain the health of the individuals that called it home. Fully three years after the first colonists arrived in Roanoke, the support ships and additional colonists arrived from England. In addition to the material that was brought, 115 new colonists were eager to establish the Roanoke colony and divide for its continued growth and success; especially after they heard the tall tales of wealth and plunder that the New World had to offer (Horn, 2010). However, as is well known, these new colonists arrived to a desolate Roanoke. The colony, as well as the fort that had been built was abandoned; without even the slightest trace of what might have happened to the individuals that called it home. Although it is true, and widely reported, that a skeleton was found, it is unclear whether or not this particular skeleton was a member of the contingent was left behind or the body of an individual that died previously while the full complement of colonists resided at Roanoke. Exploratory searches were made in and around the region; however, the only clue as to what might have happened to the colonists was the carving that was found on an oak tree which spelled out “Croatoan” - the name of one of the local Indian tribes. As there is no direct historical proof as to what might have happened to the Roanoke colonists, it will be the position of this particular analyst to indicate that the most likely scenario is that they were murdered and disposed of; due to the prior bill will that had existed between the colonists and local Indian tribes. Upon recognizing the fact that the fort was ill-prepared for a full-scale onslaught, the Native Americans may likely have utilized this as an opportunity to rid themselves of those who did so arrogantly and cruelly treated their people. Interestingly, Roanoke serves as a unique harbinger for the way in which European and native American interests would come in conflict with one another for the next 200 years (Stahle et al., 1998). Ultimately, Europeans, and subsequently their American counterparts, did not respect the culture or claim to ownership that Native Americans had over the land exhibited throughout the New World. As a result of this, they were treated extraordinarily unfairly, moved from place to place, as stakeholders saw it inconvenient that they occupied some of the best land they coveted, and summarily executed in a litany of different raids, wars, and border disputes. It is interesting to surmise what might have happened if the colony of Roanoke had not disappeared and if the first colonists had not destroyed confirmed the local Indian village under suspicion that someone within the village was responsible for stealing a single silver cup. The importance of analyzing this potential different outcome is unique and relevance due to the fact that the Roanoke colony, and the means by which the natives were treated, was likely used as a template for the way in which European – Indian relations would be predicated for decades to come. Although it is not expected that if Europeans had treated Native Americans fairly and kindly within Roanoke that peaceful coexistence would have been exhibited throughout the following decade/centuries, the brutal reprisal and subsequent reprisals against this reprisal helps to predicate an expectation for the way in which Europeans would “deal” with the rightful claimants to the lands that were settled throughout the New World. The fate of the Roanoke colonists is partially the direct result of the cruel and insensitive way that they treated the local population. As they were but visitors on lands that were not theirs, the decision to engage in a punitive expedition based on nothing more than the theft of a single silver cup may well have signed their own death certificate in the long run. References Haskell, A. (2012). A Kingdom Strange: The Brief and Tragic History of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Journal Of Southern History,78(4), 944-945. Horn, J. (2010). Roanokes Lost Colony Found?. American Heritage, 60(1), 60-65. Stahle, D. W., Cleaveland, M. K., Blanton, D. B., Therrell, M. D., & Gay, D. A. (1998). The lost colony.Science, 280(5363), 564-567. Read More