Colonization can be seen as one of the inseparable aspects of discovering new lands in the history of humankind. The process of colonization is complex and has a significant impact on all parties, whether negative or positive. To understand the historical development of certain areas, it is necessary to analyze the course of the process, the relationships between the participants, and the outcomes of colonization.
To have a closer look at the history of North America, one needs to examine the potential settlers, for example, the British, who wanted to settle in Virginia. As the British were arriving from the east, the mid-Atlantic posed obstacles such as dangerous shoals and long sandbanks, making it difficult for the ships to land (Taylor, 2001). Moreover, the British were late to the colonial party because they did not have enough resources to maintain a colony overseas due to a war with Spain (Taylor, 2001). At one of their first attempts, the British relied on one hundred men sent by Sir Walter Ralegh to establish colonies for the reason of increasing English wealth and becoming less dependent on other countries (Taylor, 2001). Although there were obstacles to colonization, England was determined to settle in Virginia.
After the British had arrived in the area, they faced more barriers. The Native Americans had a large impact on settlers who relied on the locals to shelter them (Taylor, 2001). Some of the earliest colonists, commanded by Ralph Lane, treated the local people no better than the conquistadores did as, for a long time, they demanded to be fed by the locals (Taylor, 2001). At first, the Native Americans treated the colonists with hospitality but lost patience after their supplies had run out (Taylor, 2001). The typical hardships for the first colonists were related to unrealistic expectations for immediate wealth, poor location, lack of supplies, the paltry potential for agriculture in the area (Taylor, 2001). For these reasons, the colonies did not live up to British expectations.
Examination of the colonization process in Virginia shows the reasons behind England’s desire to settle in the area. The British wanted to become wealthier but were not properly prepared. Although the Native Americans were ready to treat the colonists well, the British did not treat them accordingly and were faced with many obstacles. To see all the outcomes of British colonization, more research needs to be done.
Reference
Taylor, A. (2001). American colonies: The settling of North America. Penguin Books.