Raleigh's Idea of a Fort

    Before, piracy was like: If you see an enemy ship, you probably will attack it.  Now that strategy was not going to work. 

    Raleigh thought of the idea of building a fort near the Gulf Stream.  Then, before enemy ships could get to the open ocean, thay would attack the treasure fleets as they sailed up from Florida.

    It would have to be basically impossible for the Spanish to find.  That is the reason that Raleigh sent Barlowe and Amadas to America to find the place where they could build a fort that fit these criteria.

    They decided to try out and hopefully use Roanoke.  Raleigh would have the island fully equipped with soldiers--his idea was to build a military base, not a colony.

    He was sure it was the surest way to save England--whenever a ship passed that carried gold or other riches, they would soon have Spain's cargo fall into their own possession.  They were sure it would work.  It had to.