Virginia Virginia was the first of the 13 colonies. In 1585, the first colony to form was called Roanoke and started by Sir Walter Raleigh, an Englishman. Roanoke was an island on what is now known as North Carolina. He named it “Virginia” after the virgin queen, Elizabeth. Roanoke was a struggle. They did not know the new land and the animals, nor did they know about planting vegetation, they were not equipped with the tools and equipment needed, and then there were the Indians that they had to contend with. They were sailors and did not know the skills for planting crops and surviving on the new land. Raleigh left the Roanoke colony in 1587 and in 1590 returned with a supply ship and found no one at the colony. No one knew what happened to that colony. …show more content…
John Smith. Smith was an Englishman who knew how to fight on land and sea. His ship arrived and sailed up a large river, the James, which they named after their king. When Smith set sail from England he and his crew thought they would find gold in the new land. But, that was not to be the case (Thompson, p. 14-15). Jamestown was built near a swamp. This swamp contained brackish water which meant it was both fresh and saltwater. Many people became ill from drinking this water. Then, they started dying due to starvation, disease, and the hot weather. Let’s not forget they had to contend with the Indians, as well. But, Smith learned from Raleigh’s mistakes at Roanoke and came to the new land better prepared. He even learned some Algonquian language (Thompson, p. 15). While at Jamestown Smith knew how to trade with the Indians. One of them was with Chief Powhatan, leader of the Powhatans, who spoke the Algonquian language. Powhatan was a powerful chief who ruled many Indian nations by conquest. The English traded metal tools, European copper, glass beads and trinkets with the Powhatans in exchange for food and fur (“A Brief