The Lost Colony of Roanoke - settlement and disappearance

Khan Academy

1 Nov 201609:58

Summary

TLDRThe script recounts the ill-fated expedition to the New World, where Sir Walter Raleigh and John White attempted to establish a civilian colony on Roanoke Island. Despite initial hopes, the colony faced hostility from local Native Americans, leading to a colonist's murder and the eventual abandonment of the settlement. John White's return to England for supplies was thwarted by the Spanish Armada, leaving the colony isolated. His subsequent return to Roanoke in 1590 found only the word 'Croatoan' carved into a tree, with the colony's fate remaining a mystery. Evidence suggests the colonists may have integrated with local tribes or moved inland, highlighting the impact of small historical events on larger outcomes.

Takeaways

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Sir Walter Raleigh and John White decided to send civilians, including families, to establish a settlement in the New World instead of soldiers.
🚢 The colonists were supposed to sail to the Chesapeake Bay but were forced to stay at Roanoke Island due to unfavorable weather conditions.
🤝 The colonists hoped to live in peace with the Secotans, a Native American tribe, but tensions arose, leading to the murder of an English colonist.
🌊 Weather and a silver cup incident were significant factors that hindered the success of the Roanoke Colony.
🛳 John White, who had become the governor of the colony, had to return to England for supplies but was delayed by the Spanish Armada.
🏡 Upon his return to Roanoke in 1590, White found the colony abandoned with only the word 'Croatoan' carved into a tree as a clue.
🤔 The fate of the 'Lost Colony of Roanoke' remains a mystery, but there are theories and evidence suggesting possible outcomes.
🔍 Archaeological findings, such as English Border ware near Merry Hill, North Carolina, provide clues that some colonists may have lived there.
🔥 Signals of fires along the coast and later accounts of English coins among Native Americans suggest intermarriage and integration with the Croatoans.
🗣️ John Smith of the Jamestown Colony learned of white people living peacefully among Native Americans until a massacre by the Powhatans.
👶 The colonists included John White's own family, adding a personal and emotional aspect to the story of the Lost Colony.

Q & A

What was the purpose of Sir Walter Raleigh and John White's third expedition to the New World?
-The purpose was to establish a colony and settlement in the New World by sending civilians, including families, as opposed to just soldiers.
Why did the English colonists choose to send families to the New World instead of soldiers?
-They believed that civilians would be better suited for establishing a long-term settlement and would foster a more peaceful coexistence with the native populations.
What was the original plan for the location of the new English settlement?
-The original plan was to sail to the Chesapeake Bay, but due to unfavorable weather conditions, they were unable to go farther than Roanoke Island.
Why did the Native Americans, specifically the Secotans, become distrustful of the English colonists?
-The Secotans became distrustful after an English colonist was murdered, possibly by a Secotan, due to tensions over food scarcity and the English colonists' intention to stay permanently.
What was the significance of the silver cup in the narrative of the Roanoke Colony?
-The silver cup represents a potential point of conflict between the English colonists and the Native Americans, possibly over its theft, which could have led to a more violent relationship.
Why was John White unable to return to the New World immediately after leaving the Roanoke Colony?
-John White was unable to return immediately because all English shipping was cut off due to the threat of the Spanish Armada, preventing any ships from being sent to aid the colonists.
What did John White find upon his return to Roanoke Island in 1590?
-Upon his return, John White found the settlement completely abandoned with the word 'Croatoan' carved into a tree, indicating that the colonists may have joined or moved towards the Croatoan tribe.
Why was John White unable to visit the Croatoan tribe to find out what happened to the colonists?
-Another storm hit, forcing John White to leave Roanoke Island and return to England without being able to visit the Croatoan tribe or find his family and the other colonists.
What evidence suggests that some of the Roanoke colonists may have intermarried with the Croatoans?
-Evidence includes fires seen along the coast by John White, which could have been signals from the colonists, and later accounts of people in the region claiming to have white ancestors with English coins.
What is the archaeological evidence suggesting that some of the Roanoke colonists may have lived in Merry Hill, North Carolina?
-An archaeological dig in Merry Hill found English Border ware, which was only made during the time period before the colonists left, indicating that some of them likely lived in that area.
How does the story of the Lost Colony at Roanoke highlight the impact of small historical events on larger outcomes?
-The story shows that even minor events, such as the theft of a silver cup, can escalate tensions and lead to significant historical consequences, potentially altering the course of colonization in the New World.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Lost Colony of Roanoke: A New World Endeavor

This paragraph discusses the final expedition to the New World led by Sir Walter Raleigh and John White, who decided to send civilians instead of soldiers to establish a colony. They dispatched 90 men, 20 women, and 10 children to start a settlement, hoping to avoid conflict with the Native Americans and establish a base in the Chesapeake Bay. However, due to unfavorable weather, they were forced to remain on Roanoke Island. Tensions arose when an English colonist was murdered, leading to a breakdown in relations with the Secotans. John White was sent back to England for supplies but was delayed by the Spanish Armada, leaving the colony isolated and vulnerable.

05:03

🌳 The Fate of the Roanoke Colony: Speculations and Evidence

The second paragraph delves into the mystery of the Lost Colony at Roanoke. It recounts John White's return to find the colony abandoned, with only the word 'Croatoan' carved into a tree as a clue. The paragraph explores various theories about what might have happened to the colonists, including the possibility that some joined the Croatoans, others moved inland to Merry Hill, and some went north. Evidence from fires along the coast, English coins found among Native Americans, and the discovery of English Border ware in an archaeological dig suggests that the colonists may have intermarried with local tribes and lived among them until they were eventually attacked by the Powhatans. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the importance of small events in history and the impact of choices on historical outcomes.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡New World

The term 'New World' historically refers to the Americas, especially when used by Europeans in the late 15th and early 16th centuries to describe their discoveries in the Western Hemisphere. In the script, it is the destination of the expeditions led by Sir Walter Raleigh and the setting for the establishment of the Roanoke Colony. The 'New World' symbolizes the hope for new beginnings and the challenges of colonization.

💡Sir Walter Raleigh

Sir Walter Raleigh was an English explorer, writer, and soldier who is well known for his attempts to establish a permanent English settlement on the coast of North America. In the script, he is a central figure in the story of the Roanoke Colony, illustrating the leadership and vision of the English in their quest for new territories.

💡Roanoke Island

Roanoke Island is located in what is now North Carolina, USA. It is famously known as the site of the 'Lost Colony' of Roanoke, where English settlers mysteriously disappeared in the 16th century. The script discusses the establishment of the colony on this island and the subsequent events that led to its abandonment.

💡Secotans

The Secotans were a Native American tribe that lived in the area of present-day North Carolina during the time of the Roanoke Colony. In the script, they are depicted as the indigenous people with whom the English colonists had interactions, and their relationship is a critical aspect of the story, highlighting the cultural and social dynamics of the time.

💡Chesapeake Bay

Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary in the U.S. state of Maryland, which was considered as a potential site for the English settlement. The script mentions the English hope to establish their operations at the Chesapeake Bay instead of Roanoke Island, indicating a strategic shift in the colonization plans.

💡John White

John White was an English artist and governor of the Roanoke Colony. He is a central character in the script, known for his illustrations and his personal connection to the colony as his family was among the settlers. His journey back to England for supplies and the subsequent events are pivotal to the narrative of the 'Lost Colony'.

💡Spanish Armada

The Spanish Armada was a large fleet of ships sent by King Philip II of Spain in 1588 to invade England. In the script, the threat of the Spanish Armada is a significant historical event that prevents John White from returning to the Roanoke Colony with the necessary supplies, contributing to the colony's ultimate failure.

💡Croatoan

Croatoan refers to a Native American tribe and also the name of the island (now known as Hatteras Island) where they lived. In the script, the word 'Croatoan' is carved into a tree, which is the only clue left by the missing colonists, suggesting a possible relocation of the colony to this tribe's territory.

💡Powhatans

The Powhatans were a powerful Native American tribe in the Tidewater region of Virginia. In the script, they are mentioned in the context of a later massacre of white settlers, possibly including some from the Roanoke Colony, illustrating the complex and often violent interactions between Native Americans and English settlers.

💡English Border ware

English Border ware refers to a type of pottery that was produced in England during the late 16th century. The script mentions the discovery of this pottery in an archaeological dig near Merry Hill, North Carolina, providing evidence that English settlers may have lived in the area, contributing to the theories about the fate of the Roanoke Colony.

💡Lost Colony

The 'Lost Colony' refers to the mysterious disappearance of the English settlers at Roanoke Island. The script revolves around this enigma, exploring various theories and evidence that suggest what might have happened to the colonists. It represents the theme of historical mysteries and the impact of human choices on the course of history.

Highlights

The final expedition to the New World involved a shift in strategy, opting to send civilians and families instead of soldiers.

The settlers were tasked with establishing a colony and settlement in the New World, with the aim of creating more than just a trading post.

The initial location for the colony was problematic, situated next to Native Americans who were hostile towards the settlers.

Plans to move the colony to the Chesapeake Bay were thwarted by unfavorable weather conditions, forcing the settlers to remain on Roanoke Island.

The settlers' arrival was marred by the murder of one of their own by a likely Secotan individual, signaling a tense relationship with the Native Americans.

The settlers' lack of trustworthiness was evident to the Native Americans, who saw them as potential threats to their resources.

The tragic diplomacy and ultimatum movements between the settlers and the Native Americans could have had different outcomes.

Weather conditions and the loss of a silver cup were critical factors that hindered the success of the Roanoke Colony.

Governor John White, also an illustrator and the only remaining member of Raleigh's original group, was sent back to England for supplies.

John White's personal connection to the colony was profound, as some of the settlers were his own children.

The Spanish Armada's threat to England resulted in a blockade that prevented any ships from reaching the New World to aid the settlers.

Upon John White's return to Roanoke in 1590, he found the colony completely abandoned with only the word 'Croatoan' carved into a tree.

The agreement between the settlers and the Native Americans to leave signs of their relocation was a strategic move to ensure potential reunion.

John White's forced departure due to a storm left him without answers about the fate of his family and the other colonists.

Archaeological evidence and historical accounts suggest that some colonists may have intermarried with the Croatoans and lived among them.

The possibility of other settlers moving further inland to Merry Hill, North Carolina, is supported by the discovery of English Border ware.

John Smith's encounter with Native Americans who claimed to have had white ancestors and English coins adds to the theory of intermarriage.

The tragic end of some settlers living peacefully among the Native Americans until their massacre by the Powhatans is a grim reminder of the colony's fate.

The historical significance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke lies in the insights it provides into the potential outcomes of historical events and the choices made by individuals.