Nathaniel Bacon 's Rebellion Of The American Revolution

In the first place, Nathaniel Bacon's Rebellion was significant in early colonial history because it pronounced the grim collapse of Native American tribes that were residing in the Chesapeake region at the time. In his Declaration in the name of the people, Nathaniel Bacon cited several discrepancies against the Governor including, "For having protected, favoured, and Imboldned the

The gentry of Virginia was not pleased with this decision, since they invested in the land and were now legally hindered to sell it. Other settlers, like squatters, just settled there, but the gentry had to respect the resolution of their own Privy Council. So they started to petition the Council, but without success. Holton argues that the Indians were able to influence the British government to a certain point not to allow American settlers to settle in the Ohio Valley, because the British simply did not want to spend money for British troops that would eventually have to protect the settlers from Indian assaults. They hoped to prevent a new costly war in America. The problem for the gentry was that …"the Virginia Executive Council had no choice but to void the hundreds of surveys that had been done for Virginia speculators and to put a halt to further surveying. This setback only intensified the speculators' effort to persuade the government to let them have Kentucky and the adjacent region." But the British government did not repeal the act. This caused many of the gentry's members who speculated for land in Kentucky to be displeased and lose a great deal of money. Holton gives numerous examples of gentry members that were affected by these circumstances, including Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.

Telling of his hero status and aristocratic lifestyle, Bacon is displayed as an honorable man. Despite not being granted approval, Bacon carried out an aggressive attack of the Indians. Rather than harming his intended target, Bacon killed friendly, peaceful Indians. After this horrid display of aggressiveness, Bacon left Jamestown. When he returned, he found a militia formed by William Berkeley and proceeded to burn the houses of Jamestown. Schweikart makes it seem as though Bacon acted alone. Zinn barely mentions Bacon’s rebellion. When he does mention it, he uses it to prove a point about the fraternization of blacks and whites. Zinn claims that colonists thought the only thing worse than slave rebellions were rebellions in which blacks and whites came together. This was the case for Bacon’s rebellions, although this was never mentioned in Schweikart’s text. Zinn states that “two despised groups,” namely black and white servants, joined forces. This led to laws being passed to prevent the intermingling of whites and blacks in any way. This contrast in texts leaving nothing but a confused reader and an unclear

It held many struggles and disagreements, which lead to many retaliations, from both the Indians and the settlers. The Indians had been alliances with the white men until the massacre, which stated the settlers betrayal to all tribes.

With the immense frustration and anger among the colonists, they began to scapegoat the local Indians. To ward off future attacks and to control the situation, Governor Berkeley instigated the matter. He set up what was to be a disastrous meeting between the parties, which resulted in the murders of several tribal chiefs. In the meantime, Berkeley continually pleaded for restraint from the colonists. Some, including Nathaniel Bacon, refused to listen. Bacon disregarded the Governor's direct orders by seizing some friendly Appomattox Indians for “stealing” corn. Berkeley scolded him, which caused the disgruntled Virginians to wonder which man had taken the right action. Significantly, Berkeley could not compromise earning resentment from about 1,000 Virginians. They fiercely resented Governor Berkeley for his policies toward the Indians. When Berkeley refused to retaliate for a series of savage Indians on frontier settlements after monopolization of fur trade, the

Previous to the American Revolution, Bacon’s Rebellion was one of the largest revolts in history, and accordingly its consequences include the American Revolution. It was the war between the English and the Indians, and the civil war between the colonists of Jamestown and their government. But it was also the fierce struggle between two powerful leaders with very different beliefs. The African slaves and white indentured servants joined together to fight side by side against their common "enemies."

Bacon's Rebellion may have served as the first civil uprising within the early settlements of America. Led by Nathaniel Bacon, a militia of armed freedmen, slaves, and poor colonist banded together to fight against a government that they felt was corrupt and did not have their best interests in mind. This paper will examine some of the major causes that led to the rebellion such as the increased westward expansion by the colonists, the civil unrest growing between the social classes, rising taxes, and disputes between colonists and neighboring indian tribes.

While Bacon and the rebellion were going to battle, Berkeley just sat back and watched as it happened. Only worried about which tribes that would trade with him, Berkeley did not even seem to care about the fact that colonists were being killed. True, he did try to convince them to not intrude on the Native Americans ' land, but after that he just did not care at all. He could have sent some help to protect the colonists or forced them to get out of the Native Americans ' land but he did not. This is why Berkeley was just as

Berkeley saw Bacon’s action as a direct challenge to his own authority. The governor didn’t like his choices, and now refused to grant him anything. However the council, fearing the awful consequences of disrupting an unhappy individual who was ready armed and had the governor, council, and assembly entirely in their power, told the governor to accept his request. With much hesitancy the governor signed it, and put the power of war and peace into Bacon’s hands. This was not a good decision to make considering Bacon just came to the council and threatened them to grant his wishes. He then immediately marched off, achieving his end, which was in effect power to acquire a trust of the Indian trade for himself and his friends. The governor, having failed to raise an army against Bacon to fight his men, had no choice but to flee to the Eastern shore. He then gathered enough strength to return to Jamestown, where he proclaimed Bacon and his men. Berkley had called for new elections to the Burgesses for better aid of the Native American problem. Bacon was not serving his business in the House of Burgesses; instead he was at his plantation miles away. By then the governor had a small party with him. He aided them with clothes, arms and ammunitions, in order to cross the bay and oppose the rebel. Bacon feared that he could not fight against them then decided set fire to the town to solve

Nathaniel Bacon took charge. When he led his men into town to form an assembly,

The colonists were debating whether or not to retaliate. They decided that the British treatment was too aggressive, and that they wouldn't put up with it any longer.

2) Bacon’s Rebellion, King Phillip’s War, and the Pequot War all derided from the yearning of land, and land agreements with both local landowners and Natives. Bacon’s Rebellion essentially was due to the inadequate amount of land now-freed indentured servants could attain. A few large families or companies owned all of the land leaving none for future businessmen in hopes of making a profit off of agricultural endeavors. The impact of Bacon’s rebellion was the end to Indentured Servitude within the colonies and, more importantly, the introduction of Slavery within Virginia.

Bacon’s Rebellion made a huge impact on the people of Virginia which changed the people’s views and also the society. Before Bacon’s Rebellion

As Jamestown became more self-sustaining community, indentured servants began to live longer. As a result, the number of free servants increased. Even though, they still had some difficulties planting tobacco. "By the 1660s, freemen who wished to plant found themselves facing a difficult choice. They could move to the frontier, where it was often impossible to ship tobacco to market and the danger of Indian attack was ever present"(Hollitz, Contending Voices, 22). American Indian began to cause problems in freemen's lives. In addition, Bacon believed that the American Indians were enemies the government should not trade with them as he states in his manifesto," they have been for these many years enemies to the King and country, robbers and thieves and invaders of his Majesty's right and our interest and estes, but yet have by persons in authority been defended and protected even against his

The Indians assault the town and were inciting the settlers into a contention; they annihilated a few towns, executed numerous pioneers and steal others. The Indians began the war with no reason, they were boorish. The homesteaders were attempting to educate the Indians the Christian way; they purchased the Indians land. The pioneers were great. The settlers attempted to take care of the issue between the Native Americans and them by taking the Indian lord to court. The Indian forcefulness developed the distance to a war that did not have any incitement by the piece