Early Explorers and Settlers in North America {1607-1650}

from Interactive 3-D Maps: American History

1565: Spain's settlement at Saint Augustine
King Philip II of Spain sponsored a settlement in Florida (flower). Mendndez, the admiral, first sighted land on August 28, the feast day of Augustine of Hippo. They came ashore at the Timucuan village of Seloy, located at the present site of the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, and in honor of this day he named the area Augustine or St. Augustine. The Native Americans were filled with awe and curiosity at the enormous galleons and unfamiliar Spanish culture.  Surprisingly, Menendez did not receive orders, nor did he personally desire, to eradicate them. Spanish men married native women and adopted the Timucuan diet and methods of food preparation.  The Spanish missionaries, in turn, taught the Timucuans European farming, cattle raising, carpentry, weaving, and the Spanish language; speaking, reading and writing. By 1700, the Timucuan population had been reduced to just 1000 mostly through the introduction of European diseases.



 In 1703 the British with the Indian tribes of the Creek, Catawba, and Yuchi began killing and enslaving hundreds of the Timucua. By the time the United States acquired Florida in 1821, only five or fewer Timucua remained. They became extinct as a people.

 
Little diorama made from Interactive 3-D Maps: American History

1585: Raleigh's Roanoke Colony fails
Raleigh received a land grant from Queen Elizabeth I to create the first English settlement in America. They stayed a year and built a fort, but then the friendly relationship with local Indians turned hostile. In 1587 Raleigh sent more men to Roanoke but when they arrived there was  no sign of the settlers who had come before. Raleigh sailed home for supplies for the settlers but was delayed and when he returned, he again discovered all the settlers were gone. The only clue to what happened to them was the word CROATOAN carved on a tree.  Croatoan was the name of a friendly tribe and of an island about 50 miles away. The lost colony was never found.
This is a great book. The illustrations are wonderful and it gives all the facts but lets the reader make their own conclusions.

from Interactive 3-D Maps: American History

1607 Jamestown, Virginia founded
King James I granted the Virgina Company the right to found a settlement in Virginia. The first few months were very difficult, as they battled malaria, starvation and Indian attacks. Despite this, the settlement was a success as the first English settlement with the help of Chief Powhatan and his daughter Pocahontas.

Jamestown Fort Craft from About.com
To create this Jamestown scene they used a variety of craft supplies:
Pop-cycle sticks
Brown wood stain/Acrylic Paints
Hot glue & glue gun
Small pieces of Pine tree
Dirt
Sticks
Styrofoam
This is a beautiful book that tells some new information that they have concluded from the evidence of the archeological dig at Jamestown. Very interesting.
On June 2, 1609, the Sea Venture set sail from England for Jamestown as part of the third supply ship. On July 24, the fleet ran into a strong storm in the Caribbean, and the ships fought the storm for three days, were separated, eventually shipwrecking.  Months later the stranded colonists successfully sailed to Jamestown in two boats they constructed. They were just in time to save the dying colony. That amazing story returned to England and inspired Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

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