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Critical analysis of the bacons rebellion
One page essay on bacon's rebellion
Critical analysis of the bacons rebellion
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Bacon’s Rebellion was a war between two men that lasted about a year. One man wanted peace, and the other man wanted war. The man who wanted peace called the other man a rebel. These two men were William Berkeley and Nathaniel Bacon. Governor Sir William Berkeley was a veteran of the English Civil Wars, a frontier Indian fighter, and a playwright. His rival was Nathaniel Bacon. Nathaniel Bacon was Berkeley’s cousin by marriage. He was a troublemaker and schemer, and he was very intelligent. His father sent him to Virginia to live with Berkeley, hoping that he would mature. When Bacon arrived in Virginia, Berkeley treated him with respect, giving him a large land grant and a seat on the council in 1675. Many problems caused Bacon’s Rebellion. …show more content…
The biggest were economic problems: descending tobacco prices, rising prices of English manufactured goods, etc. There were also a lot of recent deaths during previous wars and bad weather. These difficulties encouraged the colonists to find other people they could blame for all of their troubles. The colonists chose the local Indians. The trouble started with a raid by the Doeg Indians on the plantation of Thomas Matthews. The situation became worse when the colonists attacked the wrong Indians, the Susquehanaugs, which caused the Indians to fight back. To prevent future attacks, Berkeley set up a disastrous meeting with the Indians which led to the murders of several tribe chiefs.
Throughout all of this, Berkeley begged for a little self-control from the colonists. Bacon (and some others) refused to listen. He purposely ignored the governor’s direct orders by accusing the friendly Appomattox Indians of stealing corn, something they did not do. Berkeley disciplined him which caused the Virginians to wonder which man was right. Bacon then drove out the Pamunkey Indians. Because of this, Berkeley rode to Bacon’s headquarters with three hundred well-armed men. When Bacon saw Berkeley’s men, he fled into the forest with two hundred of his own men to look for a place to have a meeting. Then, Berkeley issued two petitions. The first one declared that Bacon was a rebel. The second one said that Berkeley would excuse Bacon’s men if they went home peacefully. As a result, Bacon would forfeit the council seat that he had won, and he would be given a fair trial for his disobedience. Bacon did not obey the governor’s orders (once again). Instead, he attacked the camp of the Occaneechis. Then Berkeley agreed to forgive Bacon if he turned himself in. The House of Burgesses refused this option, saying that Bacon had to beg the governor for forgiveness and acknowledge his errors. At the same time, Bacon was elected to the Burgesses by local land owners. Because of this, he attended the landmark Assembly of June …show more content…
1676. When Bacon arrived at the Assembly of June, he was captured and taken to Berkeley to apologize.
There Berkeley immediately forgave Bacon and let him take his seat in the assembly. Bacon suddenly left during a debate over Indian problems. He came back with his forces and surrounded the statehouse. After that, Bacon demanded his commission, which caused Berkeley to ask Bacon to shoot him. He said, “Here shoot me before God, fair mark shoot.” Bacon did not shoot him. Berkeley then approved Bacon’s volunteer commission, but Bacon refused it and demanded to be general of all forces against the Indians. Berkeley rejected his demand and walked away. Suddenly, Bacon screamed, saying that they would shoot the Burgesses who were watching if he did not get what he wanted. Finally, Berkeley gave in and let Bacon have what he
wanted. Bacon let Berkeley leave Jamestown after a surprise Indian attack on a nearby settlement. Then Berkeley retired to his home in Green Springs. Bacon dominated Jamestown from July to September. Thinking that it would complete Bacon’s triumph, he published his “Declaration of the People” on July 30 saying that Berkeley was corrupt, played favorites, and protected the Indians for his own selfish purposes. Soon after, Bacon’s fleet was secretly broken into by Berkeley’s men. After this, Berkeley was strong enough to take over Jamestown. Bacon continued to attempt many sieges in which he kidnapped the wives of Berkeley’s biggest supporters. Then he burned Jamestown to the ground on September 19. All of these wars between these men ended on October 26, 1676 when Bacon suddenly died of body lice. Shortly after, Berkeley regained complete control.
Bacon’s Rebellion, King Phillip’s War and the Pequot War were similar in that there were conflicts with Natives over land, however they differed in the ways the wars were carried out and the results of the wars. Bacon’s rebellion was a result of the poorer classes moving west to cultivate land, however they encountered natives and the governor refused to protect them. Likewise the Pequot war was a direct effect of puritans moving westward, additionally all three wars resulted in the colonists as victors. During King Phillip’s war the natives destroyed a fifth of the towns in Masseuses and Rhode Island in contrast to the other wars where the natives did not cause as much damage to the colonists. Bacon’s Rebellion was significant because afterwards
Bacon was a man of opportunity and when a farmer that tried to trade with Native Americans was killed, it became his ticket to making it big in the New World. Only the governor, William Berkley, was allowed to trade with the Native Americans and nobody else. When the farmer was killed, William Berkley denied the upset colonists their desire to fight back. In doing so, it led Bacon to challenge his authority. He began to rally up colonists living in the backcountry where the colonists had no representation, no opportunity to achieve a fortune, and lived in a hostile environment. Everything those colonists did not have would be Bacon’s leverage in convincing them to support him and his cause. He had led 1,000 men to fight with him in hopes to rule the colony and would make changes to their benefit. William Berkley then branded Bacon as a rebel and sent for British troops. Bacon and his supporters then went into the backcountry where he eventually died of
Nathaniel thought that the government did not provide them with any protection, and this really upset him. It upset Bacon so much that he decided to create an angry mob to burn Jamestown and neighboring Indian settlements to the ground in protest. In other words, he had a temper tantrum.
Bacon's Declaration in the Name of the People (30 July 1676) The Declaracon of the People.1.For haveing upon specious pretences of publiqe works raised greate unjust taxes upon the Comonality for the advancement of private favorites and other sinister ends, but noe visible effects in any measure adequate, For not haveing dureing this long time of his Gouvernement in any measure advanced this hopefull Colony either by fortificacons Townes or Trade. 2.For haveing abused and rendred contemptable the Magistrates of Justice, by advanceing to places of Judicature, scandalous and Ignorant favorites. 3.For haveing wronged his Majesties prerogative and interest, by assumeing Monopoly of the Beaver trade, and for haveing in that unjust gaine betrayed
James D. Rice’s Tales From a Revolution is perhaps one of the most important works on early Colonial America. This concise and informative narrative focuses on an important event in American History that has simply been overlooked by many Americans and historians, Bacon’s Rebellion, which occurred in 1676. This revolt played a significant role in the course of history at a pivotal time in early America. Rice focuses on much more than the actual revolt, giving a very vivid and easy to comprehend overview of the occurrences that took place before, during, and after this climactic and transformative event in history that would be one of the first of many rebellions and revolutions that would gradually pave the way for the foundation of America.
Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers to the United States, was not a patriot but a mere loyalist to England before the dissolution between England and the colonies occurred. Sheila L. Skemp's The Making of a Patriot explores how Benjamin Franklin tried to stay loyal to the crown while taking interest in the colonies perception and their own representation in Parliament. While Ms. Skemp alludes to Franklin's loyalty, her main illustration is how the attack by Alexander Wedderburn during the Privy Council led to Franklin's disillusionment with the British crown and the greater interest in making the Thirteen Colonies their own nation. Her analysis of Franklin's history in Parliament and what occurred on the night that the council convened proves the change behind Franklin's beliefs and what lead to his involvement in the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution. Benjamin Franklin was the colonial agent representing Massachusetts in Parliament in Britain.
...able behavior far different from that of rebellion.” The colonists held their tongues as long as they could, but in 1676, their frustration grew too strong. Bacon and a thousand Virginians rebelled and overthrew the governor, in what is known as Bacon’s Rebellion. Shortly after the rebellion, Bacon died, and Governor Berkeley returned and viciously crushed the brigands.
He was sympathetic to the Colonies and was a supporter in repealing the Stamp Act. His name was William Pitt. Unfortunately for the Colonists, he fell ill shortly after taking office and passed and was replaced by Townshend. Townshend had quite the opposite view as Pitt. He supported generating even more revenue from the Colonies.
“The main goal of British troops was to capture rebel leaders Sam Adams & John Hancock”. As well as to abolish their weapons and ammunition. However, the horse rider warned the colonist “Paul Revere” and the militia was able hide their ammunition and weapons. Thus, also allowing Samuel Adams and John Hancock to
He accused Bacon of being an Atheist and a Rebel who tried to rid the Colony of “Religion and Laws”(Governor William Berkely on Bacon's Rebellion 19 May 1676.). According to Berkeley, Bacon thought that the laws were beneath him and has constantly “dishonor[ed] the English Nation” (Governor William Berkely on Bacon's Rebellion 19 May 1676.). William Berkeley did all that he could to tarnish Bacon and his accusations.
This chapter provided information from the trial of Captain Thomas Preston. The chapter asked the question, “What really happened in the Boston Massacre”. Chapter four focused on the overall event of the Massacre and trying to determine if Captain Preston had given the order to fire at Boston citizens. The chapter provides background information and evidence from Preston’s trial to leave the reader answering the question the chapter presents. Although, after looking through all the witnesses’ testimonies some might sway in Captain Preston’s favor, just the way the grand jury did.
The Stono Rebellion and Bacon’s Rebellion both thoroughly demonstrated the determination of the American people in the British colonies. Despite the brutal treatment that slaves received and the inadequate policies for protecting the farmers of Virginia, both groups of people rose up in distinguished acts of defiance. These revolutionaries both had the goal to make a point to the British government that they are to be feared and not trampled upon. The Virginian farmers did not accept the policies of William Berkley and instead of living under his power, they rose up to fight
The French Revolution was a period of political upheaval that occurred in France during the latter half of the 18th century. This revolution marked an end to the system of feudalism and the monarchy in France and a rise to democracy and new Enlightenment ideas. By 1789, when the revolution began, France was in a deep financial crisis due to the debt they had obtained over many years of reckless spending and France was nearly bankrupt. These financial issues fell almost completely on the bottom social class or the Third Estate which made up a majority of the country. Because of this financial trouble the common people were heavily taxed leaving many of them in poverty. In addition to the economic issues, France also held an Estate System that led to heavy
During the years of 1675 and 1676 the North American colonies experienced conflicts that shaped the dynamics of their colonial life. King Phillip's War would effectively end relations between the New England colonists and the Indians. Also, the rebellion in Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon stressed the growing discontent of poor frontier farmers for British rule. The consequences of these two events clearly had an impact on different levels that would extend well beyond their time. Therefore, the years 1675 and 1676 played a very significant role in the Northern American colonies.
Revolutions are usually described as “radical” events. A “radical” event is defined as one that greatly changes the political, cultural, social, and/or economic nature of a society. I believe that the American Revolution was a radical event that dramatically changed our society. There were many impacts to the changes such as slavery, primogeniture, the Articles of Confederation, republican motherhood, and government. This was the time in life, that we as America gained our independence from Britain. The American Revolution is what shaped our world to become what it is today.