Analysis Of ' Bacon ' Rebellion '

During this time, people began to turn away from the governor and towards the Virginian newcomer, Nathaniel Bacon, who was seen as a leader (Rice). Bacon was newly appointed to the governor’s council seat and was greatly liked by the governor, in fact, he was related to Sir William Berkeley in being his cousin. When the overseer at one of Bacon 's properties, known as Bacon 's Quarter, was killed, Bacon 's sympathies shifted away from the governor and his Council and toward those who wanted immediate action against the Indians who had raided south, near the James River. Bacon’s attitude was soon found to be much to the dislike of Gov. Berkeley and Bacon was expelled from his council seat and declared to be in rebellion after he attacked his allies, the Occaneechi tribe, and killed many men, women, and children in addition to looting their town. Berkeley then called an assembly for the petitioning of a new governor created by Charles II. Surprisingly, Bacon was elected for a burgess for Henrico County. When Bacon tried to take a seat, he was captured and forced to “capitulate”, or surrender, on bended knees (Rice). After being expelled from his council seat for a second time, Bacon fled Jamestown and gathered a 500-man army