In early American colonial history, the region named "Virginia" in North America was so called to honour which English monarch?

Introduction / Context:
Place names often preserve memories of historical figures, events, or characteristics. The name "Virginia" in North America is closely linked with the early period of English exploration and colonisation. Understanding whom this region was meant to honour helps students connect geography with royal history and the motives behind naming new colonies. This question asks which English monarch was honoured when a settlement and region in America were called Virginia.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on the early English colonial period in North America.
• The name in question is "Virginia".
• Options include Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, King James I, and King George III.
• We assume knowledge that Virginia was named at a time when English explorers were active under a particular monarch.

Concept / Approach:
The name "Virginia" is associated with Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was sometimes called the "Virgin Queen" because she never married. During her reign in the late sixteenth century, English exploration of the Atlantic coast of North America increased, and explorers such as Sir Walter Raleigh named parts of the new territory "Virginia" to honour her. Queen Victoria ruled much later in the nineteenth century, King James I came after Elizabeth and is connected with Jamestown, and King George III was linked with the period of the American Revolution. None of these later monarchs were the basis for the original naming of Virginia.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Queen Elizabeth I was known as the "Virgin Queen" and that early English colonisation efforts occurred under her rule. Step 2: Connect the name "Virginia" with this idea of virginity and the desire to honour Elizabeth. Step 3: Note that Queen Victoria, King James I, and King George III belong to much later periods of British history. Step 4: Recognise that while King James I is linked to Jamestown, the colony of Virginia itself took its name earlier. Step 5: Select Queen Elizabeth I of England as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical accounts of early English voyages to North America mention that Sir Walter Raleigh and other explorers used the name Virginia to honour Queen Elizabeth I. Textbooks often highlight her title "Virgin Queen" and connect it directly with this naming decision. References to Queen Victoria, King James I, and King George III appear in different contexts and time periods, not in relation to the original naming of Virginia, which confirms that Elizabeth is the correct monarch.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Queen Victoria ruled in the nineteenth century, long after the original English colonies in North America had been established, so she could not have been the inspiration for the name Virginia. King James I is associated with the foundation of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in Virginia, but the broader region had already been given its name. King George III was the monarch during the American Revolution, when the colonies sought independence, not during the period of initial naming. Therefore, none of these other monarchs fit the specific historical context of the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse the naming of Virginia with the founding of Jamestown and mistakenly associate it with King James I. Others might choose a more widely known monarch such as Queen Victoria or King George III without checking the time period. Remembering that Virginia was named in honour of the "Virgin Queen", Elizabeth I, and that this occurred during the late sixteenth century, helps to avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
The American region named "Virginia" was called so to honour Queen Elizabeth I of England.