English Settlers

England was the first [country:place] to compete with Spain for claims in the New World, although it was too [weak:strong] to do this openly at first. But Queen Elizabeth of England supported such explorations as early as the 1570s. Sir Humphrey Gilbert led the [first:last] English settlement efforts. He did not establish any lasting settlement. He died as he was returning to England. Gilbert's half brother Sir Walter Raleigh continued his work. Raleigh sent a number of ships to [explore:expect] the east coast of North America. He called the land Virginia [to:of] honor England's unmarried Queen Elizabeth.