A Briefe And True Report Chapter 1 Summary

While researching information on colonization I have found the inhumane treatment of natives appalling. Queen Elizabeth granted Sir Walter Raleigh money to send colonists to implement her rules and religion upon the natives in Ireland, Newfoundland, and Virginia. Sir Humphrey Gilbert made several trips in these efforts but was lost at sea. Several more voyages were made to the New Lands in efforts to colonize but failed. Jamestown was the first successful colony. In the 1580’s colonists faced difficulties while colonizing Ireland, Newfoundland, and Virginia primarily due to differences in religion and ways of life.
To begin with, leaders in London such as Queen Elizabeth I began wide spread English settlement in Ireland with intentions of disposing
of Gaelic culture and Irish Catholicism. To do this, she sent Sir Walter Raleigh to help suppress an uprising in Munster. Eventually, England’s colonization of Ireland and Virginia end in tandem (partnership). England wants to colonize Ireland to spread their belief systems around as many places as possible. The English were very harsh towards the Algonquians along with the Irish. They subjugated them by the 1st Desdmond Rebellion (1569-1573) which ended in English victory and suppressed the Gaelic Culture. When Gilbert reached Newfoundland he claimed it under Queen Elizabeth’s name. In addition to that, the English completely took over the Irish and the Algonquians land and killed them if they refused to conform to their belief systems. Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Humphrey Gilbert were two half-brothers that had much involvement with the colonization of Ireland, Virginia, and Newfoundland. Queen Elizabeth I really put her trust into Sir Walter Raleigh, she was very fond of him. The Queen granted them money to send voyages and colonists to go and colonize these lands of the New World. Several voyages failed but the first successful English colony was Jamestown, Virginia. Sir Humphrey Gilbert received the 1st grant to colonize in the New World. Gilbert officially claims Newfoundland as England’s 1st New World colony on August 5, 1583. Sir Walter Raleigh dispatches another expedition to the New World with hopes to find rich empires. The story, A Briefe and True Report reveals that the Carolina Algonquians at first believed the Englishmen to be some sort of Gods but soon concluded that they were stupid.
As far as religion is concerned it was believed that they believed in Animism, and worshipped a multitude of gods. Algonquians had gods for the sun, moon, wind, waves, and even weather. Another belief of these natives was that the spiritual world interacted with the physical world in many ways. One of their strongest beliefs were reincarnation and life after death. Harriot learns this information about the Carolina Algonquians by observing, communicating, and interacting with them during their journey to the Americas. Along with Gilbert and Humphrey another man that had a significant impact on this voyage goes by the name Sir William Herbert. Hebert in my opinion was a terrible man. When he came to the New World he decided that any and everyone who did not follow his religious practices should die and have their land taken away from their families. If the natives wanted to keep their land, they must conform exactly how he pleased but still get treated terribly. I know I am just pointed out a few people individually but this is how the entire colonization of the New World took
place. In conclusion, Harriot’s, A Briefe and True Report and Mancall’s, Envisioning America show the true struggles and difficulties that the Englishmen endured during their many attempts of colonizing the New World. Although there were many failed voyages they eventually had one to end in a success. People may read these stories and envision an English victory, but all I could see is greed. The Englishmen came and took over land that they were not entitled to and killed everyone who did not want to fall into their lifestyles. The Carolina Algonquians, Irish, and Newfoundland natives were just living in their territory peacefully. All of this went downhill once a greedy man like Sir Walter Raleigh comes and takes over their land and destroys everything they have ever known.