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The Influence Of Nathaniel Bacon's Rebellion

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Nathaniel Bacon was a man of intelligence, determination, and to some, great stubbornness. His actions in the early Virginia colony are sometimes looked at as a foreshadowing of what later would become the American Revolution and in a way, the young scholar changed the way the government was structured throughout the early American settlements. The arrival of wealthy, educated Bacon changed the dynamic of the colonies. He challenged the rule of Sir William Berkeley, governor of the Virginia colony in ways that satisfied the rest of the colonists, who had their share of dislike towards the ruler because of his disregard for their opinions and needs. The people felt like they had a voice, a voice that was represented by Bacon. It is fair to say that one of the things he was best known for was his decision to lead various attacks against neighboring Native American tribes who were a constant threat to their frontiers. …show more content…

With his army, Bacon also found other ways to make his voice heard. This included the burning down of Jamestown in September of 1676 and the rebellion led in his name known as “Bacon’s Rebellion.” The short-lived rebellion, fueled by a number of factors—high and unfair tax rates, the feeling of not being protected, disagreement on how to handle neighboring Native Americans, and favoritism/corruption among rulers, just to name a few—unfortunately dispersed following the death of its leader on October 26, 1676. However, Bacon’s efforts had a lasting effect. The most obvious change had to do with the lowering of tax rates. At the same time, the rebellion paved way for equality. The idea of the consent of the people was established and Sir William Berkeley’s successors were careful in the ways they ruled and were mindful of the people, fearing a rebellion similar to Bacon’s would happen

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