Roanoke Island’s First Failure: Key Reasons Explained

Subject : History

Question:

Roanoke Island

1. First failure at Roanoke Island

A. Raleigh gained permission to start a colony

B. 1585, Raleigh sent 100 colonists

C. Settlers did not plant crops

D. Sir Francis Drake brought starving settlers back to England

A. Raleigh sent 100 colonists.

B. Many settlers starved.

C. The first failure of Roanoke Island was caused by the settlers not planting crops.

Expert Verified Solution:

Explanation:

The first failure at Roanoke Island occurred due to several key factors:

Raleigh Gained Permission to Start a Colony: Sir Walter Raleigh was granted permission to establish a colony in the New World, and in 1585, he sent a group of 100 colonists to Roanoke Island.

1585, Raleigh Sent 100 Colonists: The initial attempt to settle on Roanoke Island involved 100 colonists. However, this effort faced significant challenges.

Settlers Did Not Plant Crops: One of the critical issues leading to the failure was that the settlers did not engage in adequate agricultural practices, such as planting crops. This lack of preparation resulted in food shortages.

Sir Francis Drake Brought Starving Settlers Back to England: The situation became dire due to the settlers’ inability to sustain themselves. In 1586, Sir Francis Drake arrived and took the struggling settlers back to England, marking the end of the first Roanoke attempt.

The first failure at Roanoke Island was primarily caused by the settlers’ failure to plant crops, which led to starvation and the eventual return of the colonists to England.