The attempt to colonise Virginia in 1585-86 failed. It failed for four key reasons. Firstly is the voyage itself. When setting sail, the voyage left England too late to be able to plant crops in Virginia as it wasn’t the right season to do this. Secondly the colonists were taken ill which weakened their ability to build a new life. Finally and perhaps crucially the Tiger which had the supplies onboard was ruined meaning that the colonists had a lack of supplies.
Secondly, the colonists themselves are to blame for the failure in Virginia. When Raleigh had recruited them he had recruited a poor mix of people with the wrong skills. As a result they did not have the skills required to build a new life. The colonists lacked farmers but had many craftsmen who were not appropriately skilled to farm and produce crops. As a result those who arrived in Virginia could not set up a new life.
Thirdly, and linked to the second reason is inexperience. The colonists who were chosen had no experience of establishing colonies and in most cases had never left England before. As a result many mistakes were made when they were establishing Virginia.
The final reason for failure was the resistance that the colonists encountered with the Native Americans. The Native Americans did not trust and were naturally suspicious of the English who demanded too much of them. As a result of this, there was conflict and fighting between the English colonists and the Native Americans.
I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of historical events, particularly the attempt to colonize Virginia in 1585-86. My expertise is rooted in thorough research and a passion for unraveling the complexities of historical narratives.
In the case of the Virginia colonization attempt, several key factors contributed to its failure. Firstly, the timing of the voyage played a crucial role. The decision to set sail from England occurred too late in the season, preventing the colonists from planting crops upon their arrival in Virginia. This oversight in timing resulted in a lack of essential resources for sustaining life.
Another significant factor lies in the health of the colonists. They fell ill, further hindering their ability to build a new life in the foreign land. Additionally, the Tiger, the ship carrying vital supplies, was ruined, leaving the colonists without the necessary resources for survival.
The second major reason for failure points to the colonists themselves. Sir Walter Raleigh's recruitment strategy led to a poor mix of people with inadequate skills for the task at hand. The lack of farmers and an abundance of unskilled craftsmen made it impossible for the colonists to establish a sustainable life in Virginia.
Linked to this is the issue of inexperience. The chosen colonists had no prior experience in establishing colonies and, in many cases, had never left England. This lack of familiarity with the challenges of founding a settlement resulted in numerous mistakes during the establishment of Virginia.
The final blow came from the resistance encountered with the Native Americans. The English colonists demanded too much from the Native Americans, leading to a lack of trust and natural suspicion. This strained relationship resulted in conflicts and fighting between the two groups, contributing significantly to the failure of the colonization attempt.
In summary, the combination of poor timing, health issues, inadequate skills among the colonists, their lack of experience, and conflicts with Native Americans all played pivotal roles in the unsuccessful attempt to colonize Virginia in 1585-86.
