2. Crossing the Atlantic 16th century: Spanish & French explored Acadia to Florida; French ended up in North; Spanish ended up in South Mid-Atlantic seaboard remained open for English to take (London) “West Country Men”: Sir Francis Drake, Richard Grenville, John Hawkins, Walter Ralegh and Sir Humphrey Gilbert West Country Men promoted sending English beggars to the colonies to create jobs, help over-population issues and bring in more money to the crown
3. Roanoke 1585: Ralegh sent 100 colonist to Island Roanoke to start a colony; failed. 1587: Second set of colonists sent led by John White White went home seeking supplies and reinforcements; struggle against Spanish Armada held him up Returned August, 1590, to find the settlement mysteriously abandoned “Croatoan” carved in a nearby tree
4. Virginia(Jamestown) Natives let British stay in order to trade for the new technology they brought Wanted to turn Virginia wilderness into farmland Treaty with Spain in 1604 reduced fear of South John Smith ran colony 1608-09; forced 6 hours of planting crop a day; thrown out Conflict sparked up between colonists and Natives; colonists pressed for their assumed hospitality and food—inspired by British Promoters back home; Natives killed.
5. tobacco Led by John Rolfe, planters learned to grow tobacco in 1616 Tobacco sold 5 to 10 times higher in England than it took to grow in Colonies Growing tobacco farms led to bigger population; had to steal land from Natives Virginia Company too in debt; New English empire took over Started new Northern “Maryland” Colony in 1632
