Why do countries colonize other lands? Objective The student will be able to: a) discern the differences between wants and needs, b) identify abilities of the ideal colonist, c) create a persuasive handbill to recruit colonists, and d) prioritize and justify their answers. Background The 16th-century voyages to Roanoke Island, and the associated human losses, were among England’s first steps, and failures, in the European race to increase power and wealth by capitalizing on the unknown resources of the New World in hopes of determining the course of Europe’s political and economic power. While Duration: 60 Minutes.