U.S. History Mr. Goodman Name: _________________________________ Unit 2: English Colonies in Southern North America “English Colonies”, from Cayton, Perry, Reed and Winkler’s America: Pathways to the Present, 2007 (Modified) By the late 1500s, England had decided that it should establish a colony in the Americas. There were several reasons for England’s interest in permanent settlements. 1. Privateers were sailing from England in search of riches. They wanted a base in the Americas from which they could attack Spanish ships and cities. 2. Europeans were convinced that they could find a Northwest Passage through the American continent to Asia. When they did find such a passage, they reasoned they would need supply stations in North America for trading ships. 3. English merchants also wanted new markets. Some thought that Native Americans would buy their goods. Others hoped that a growing population in the colonies would someday become buyers of English cloth and other products. 4. Some of the English believed that their homeland was becoming too crowded. The Americas would be a good place to send those who could not find work or homes in England. With these reasons in mind, a sea dog named Sir Walter Raleigh tried twice to start a colony on Roanoke Island in the 1580s. Roanoke is one of a chain of islands called the Outer Banks that runs along the coast of present day North Carolina. Raleigh’s first attempt, in 1585, ended when the starving settlers abandoned the colony and returned home. Vocabulary Privateer – a sort of pirate who has permission from their government to steal riches from ships belonging to other nations. Northwest Passage – a water route leading through North America that would allow ships in the Atlantic Ocean to sail across the continent and into the Pacific Ocean Markets -­‐ customers Standard: RH.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of information. 1. Cite two pieces of evidence showing that the English were motivated by economic reasons to establish colonies in North America: MORE QUESTIONS ON THE BACK PAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! U.S. History Mr. Goodman Name: _________________________________ Unit 2: English Colonies in Southern North America 2. Cite evidence showing that the English were motivated to establish colonies in North America in order to escape undesirable circumstances in England. 3. Cite evidence showing that the earliest attempt by the English to establish colonies in North America ended in failure. 4. Is the source above a primary or a secondary source? Provide and explain evidence from the source in order to support your answer.