The Theory: Attacked by Native Americans
Another common theory is that the Native Americans attacked the colonists and that is why they were never found.
Evidence |
View of Native Americans at the time |
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Thomas Harriot described the indigenous people as " very ingenious, and yet clearly inferior and in need of being brought to civilities." This reflects the attitude of many Englishmen of the era. They often viewed Native Americans as savages that needed to be civilized, and they viewed themselves as superior.
As time went on this view of the Native Americans not only persisted, but in some ways was even strengthened, as racism increased throughout the colonial era well into the 1900's.
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When was the colony Truly declared 'Lost'?
The 'Lost Colony' was a term that wasn't coined until 1837 by Eliza Lanesford Cushing. This was truly the beginning of the mystery of the lost colony. Previously, the colony wasn't really considered lost, but it was simply assumed the colonist either died from disease or starvation or assimilated with nearby Native American Tribes.
Why Was the colony Declared 'Lost' In the 1830's?
Racism. Although, racism was nothing new, and there were many before the 1830's who had a negative view towards indigenous people, racism was widespread throughout the United States during the 1830's. The trail of tears took place in 1831 which was a result of the Indian Removal Act. This meant that approximately 60,000 Native Americans were forced out of their homelands and pushed westward. Native Americans weren't the only ones that racism applied to. At the time there was also lots of fear surrounding slave rebellions after Nat Turner's Rebellion took place in 1831. Overall, these events contributed to the nation's growing racism, and this gave the perfect opportunity to reflect on what happened at Roanoke. Many did not want to believe that the colonist joined Native Americans. So, instead, they were declared 'Lost'.
What does this say about Supporters of this Theory?
Many support this theory among others because of their refusal to believe that Englishmen chose assimilation into Native American Culture over starvation.
Not degrade the memory of these early pioneers in the settlement of America by supposing that they at once forgot their Christian nature, and voluntarily and promptly sunk into heathen barbarism, within less than one generation. -1909 bishop, Joseph Blount Cheshire Jr.
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Virginia Dare
Virginia Dare was the 'first child' to be born and christened in the new world. She was the grandchild of John White. Interestingly, she has become a symbol of White Nationalism. Although, this has little to do with this particular theory. Many white nationalist in the past as well as today refuse to believe that the Englishmen were absorbed into Native American society. They prefer to believe, that as bishop Cheshire asserted the colonist "endured a nobler fate - heroic deaths at the hands of Indians".
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For more information about Virginia Dare and here connection to White Nationalism, visit these websites:
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Virginia Dare’s story reveals our desire to assimilate and our anxiety about doing just that. The infant of Roanoke offers us two very different futures. We can be martyred for some imagined race, or we can recognize that to be American is, in its essence, to be willing to redefine our beliefs, goals and even our ethnicity. Only by getting lost can we become something new.
-Andrew Lawler
What would it mean if this theory were true?
Even if this theory were proved to be true, it would be important to understand the fault was not totally on the Native Americans. The colonist themselves initiated violence against the Native Americans as shown by the silver cup incident. If the Native Americans were responsible for the deaths of the lost colonist it was likely in an act of self-defense and self-preservation.
References
History 101: What Europeans Thought of Native Americans. (n.d.). Retrieved from United Indians: http://www.unitedindians.com/what-europeans-thought-native-americans
Kincheloe, J. W. (n.d.). American Indians at European Contact. Retrieved from NCPedia: https://www.ncpedia.org/history/early/contact
Lawler, A. (2018, May). How a child born more than 400 years ago became a symbol of white nationalism. Retrieved from The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2018/05/24/how-a-child-born-more-than-400-years-ago-became-a-symbol-of-white-nationalism/
Kincheloe, J. W. (n.d.). American Indians at European Contact. Retrieved from NCPedia: https://www.ncpedia.org/history/early/contact
Lawler, A. (2018, May). How a child born more than 400 years ago became a symbol of white nationalism. Retrieved from The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2018/05/24/how-a-child-born-more-than-400-years-ago-became-a-symbol-of-white-nationalism/