Queen Elizabeth I gave Sir Walter Raleigh permission to establish the Roanoke colony in North America in 1585. The first group of 100 settlers struggled due to lack of supplies and Indian attacks, returning to England. In 1587, Raleigh sent another group led by John White, but White had to return to England for supplies, leaving the colony deserted with just the word "Croatoan" carved as a clue. The Roanoke colony ultimately failed due to lack of planning, supplies, and people to defend against enemy attacks and storms.

1. The Lost Colony of
Roanoke
1585-1590

2. Questions
Who did Queen Elizabeth give
permission to settle land in America?
Who led the second Roanoke
colony?
Why did the Roanoke colony fail?
What did England learn from the
failed Roanoke Colony?

3. Sir Walter Raleigh
■ Given permission to
claim land in North
America
■ Claims Roanoke
Island in the name of
Queen Elizabeth I

4. Roanoke Colony – Attempt #1
■ 1585, 100 men were
sent to colonize
Roanoke Colony
■ Suitable for
crops/climate
■ Indian attacks
■ Lack of supplies
■ Things were so rough
during the winter, they
returned to England

5. Roanoke Colony – Attempt #2
■ 1587, Raleigh sends
another group of
settlers
■ 91 men, 17 women,
and 9 children
■ Lead by John White
■ Needed supplies,
White returns to
England

6. Reasons led to failure of Colony
■ No protected
harbor
■ Lack of people,
money, supplies
■ Enemy attacks
■ Storms
■ Lesson learned:
■ Better planning
needed for a
successful
permanent colony

7. White Returns…
■ 3 years later, White
returns to Roanoke
■ Colony was deserted
of all inhabitants
■ The only clue was the
word “Croatoan”
carved on a gatepost

8. And they were never
seen again…
What do you think happened to
them?

9. Changing Roanoke’s fate
■ Write a letter to Queen Elizabeth explaining
why Roanoke colony failed.
■Two paragraphs
■ Then create an alternative plan that might
have make the colony survive.
■ Plan must address at least two of the problems
that Roanoke colony encountered.