Sometimes moving to new places in search of opportunity or a better life does not work out as well as people thought it might. As an example, a long-lasting drought probably had a major impact on the outcome of the early American colonies.
In 1585 new settlers came to Roanoke Island, in what is now North Carolina, to begin a new life. In 1607 Jamestown Colony, in what was to be Virginia, was established.
According to a 1998 study, The Lost Colony and Jamestown Drought, the authors state that between 1587 and 1589, “. . . the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island disappeared during the most extreme drought in 800 years. . .” They also comment that between 1606 and 1612, “. . . the alarming mortality and the near abandonment of Jamestown Colony occurred during the driest 7-year episode in 770 years.”
A map from the North American Drought Atlas for 1610 illustrates the area of the southeast part of the continent impacted by the drought. Maps are constructed using measurements of tree rings which are direct indications of periods of drought (red end of spectrum) or wet (blue end) conditions. http://drought.memphis.edu/NADA/MapDisplay.aspx
Data collected from tree-ring measurements, as well as population and immigration estimates, in the region strongly suggest that mortality rates rose with increasing aridity (drought index).
The new settlers in America had the greatest bad luck to arrive at a time when drought in this region was widespread and possibly the worst it had been in centuries. Even considering threats from other sources, such as the potential conflict with the native population, it is no wonder the colonies failed.
Reference:
Stahle,
David W., Malcolm K. Cleaveland, Dennis B. Blanton, Matthew D. Therrell &
David A. Gay. (1998). The Lost Colony and Jamestown Droughts. Science,
280(5363), pp 564-567.
