Spain and Portugal had successful colony in the New World. Elizabethans wanted somethings similar. It was hoped an American colony would provide wine, oil, sugar and flax. It was also thought that the poor people from England could go live there and so help reduce the amount poverty in England.
Sir Walter Raleigh was one of Elizathbeth’s favourite courtiers. She granted him a patent ( a licence) set up a colony in America. He claimed an area of north America and named it Virginia to honour Elizabeth the Virgin Queen. He never visited America himself. Both his attempts found a colony failed. In 1585, the first settlers faced so many problems that they left after a year, the second group disappeared without trace.
