The Lost Colony and Jamestown Droughts

from the WDC Paleoclimatology archive.

Summary:

Roanoke Island, located off the NE coast of North Carolina, is some 12 miles long and 3 miles wide. The island is the site of the earliest English colony in North America (see map). The first group of colonists landed on Roanoke Island in August of 1585 but, returned to England a year later, in 1586. A second group of colonists, arriving in 1587, mysteriously disappeared and not a single colonist was found by the time additional supplies were brought from England in 1591. Historians have long wondered about the fate of those colonists, who became known as the Lost Colony of Roanoke.

Some light has been shed on this mystery by a group of scientists who used the rings of baldcypress trees (Taxodium distichum) to reconstruct the history of drought for this region. A drought reconstruction, stretching back to 1185, indicates that the most severe growing season drought and the most severe three year period of drought in 800 years coincided with the disappearance of the Roanoke Island Colonists.

In addition, a reconstruction of the severe seven year drought (1606-1612) in Jamestown, accounted from documented historical records, likely played a part in the high death rate in the colony. Only 38 of the original 104 colonists survived the first year (1607) at Jamestown and of the 6000 people that came to the settlement between the years of 1608-1624, only 3400 survived. Most reportedly died of malnutrition.

PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ON YOUR OWN PAPER. 

1. Is this article a primary or secondary source? (5pts)
2. According to this article, there is new evidence as to what may have happened to the colonist at Roanoke Island. What does this new evidence indicate? (5pts)
3. What may have played a part in the high death rate in Jamestown in 1608? (5pts)

7th Grade - Journals 11-20

Journal 11 - Choose one Native American civilization mentioned in class and describe it in your journal.

Journal 12 – How do you think the Native Americans kept warm during the winter?

JOURNAL 13 – WHY DID COLUMBUS CALL THE NATIVE AMERICANS ‘INDIANS’?

JOURNAL 14 – DRAW A MAP OF THE WORLD AS THE EUROPEANS SAW IT BEFORE THEY “DISCOVERED” AMERICA.

Journal 15 – How do we know the Vikings were here before Columbus? (Use V1.13-14)

Journal 16 – Who were the Conquistadores?

Journal 17 – Why did cartographers depend on explorers to help them make maps?

Journal 18 - We live in a Humid Continental climate zone. Conduct some outside research to get more information about this climate zone. (handout, internet, science teacher)

Journal 19 – Write a letter to an explorer who searched for a Northwest Passage. Explain why this discovery is important to your nation.

Journal 20 – Explain how European affairs affected the New World. Point out two important events.

8th Grade: Journals 11-20

Journal 11 – Describe what was going on in the United States by April 1860. (10 min)

Journal 12 – Describe the life of Frederick Douglas. Use V4.31-32.

Journal 13 – The teacher will assign you an event that led to or caused the Civil War. Your job is to describe it. State the event, and include dates, and names of individuals involved with that event.

Journal 14 - If you were Jefferson Davis, what actions would you have taken to defend and protect the South? Keep in mind the circumstances.

Journal 15 – Why are the Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address considered important events of the American Civil War?

Journal 16 – Explain the difference between Confederate, Union, and Border states. Use your map.

Journal 17 – Imagine that you are a young man who has just volunteered to fight as a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. Write a letter to your parents explaining why you are going to fight.

Journal 18 - What do you suppose was the purpose or meaning of fighting such a bloody war?

Journal 19 – When Abraham Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, he reportedly said to her, “So you’re the little lady who made this big war.” Based on Lincoln’s comments, what do you think Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel was about?

Journal 20 – Describe the 5 major battles of the Civil War: Ft. Sumter, Battle of Hampton Roads, Battle of Vicksburg, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle at Appomattox Court House.