In 1673, Nathaniel Bacon, a distant relative of Governor Berkeley, emigrated from England under murky circumstances and set up a small plantation on the James River. He rose rapidly in public esteem and was appointed to the governor’s council. In the mid-1670's, Bacon's Rebellion was caused by low tobacco prices, rising taxes from English manufactured goods, roaming livestock, and crowds of free servants greedily eyeing indigenous lands. The revolt grew out of hatred for the colonial governor, William Berkeley. Bacon. The large planters that dominated the assembly levied high taxes to finance Berkeley's regime. Newly freed servants were forced to migrate westward in quest for farms. Their lust for land led them to displace the Indians. Berkeley …show more content…
failed to support the farmers in their conflict with the Indians and the farmers rebelled. After failing to extract a promise of action against the tribes, the discontent turned to violence when a squabble between a white planter and indigenous people on the Potomac River led to murder of the planter's herdsman and retaliation by frontier militiamen. Violence spread and militiamen of Virginia and Maryland murdered five indigenous chieftains who sought to negotiate.
Indians were enraged and took their revenge on frontier settlements. Attacks continued southward down to James River. After revenge was accomplished, Governor Berkeley proposed that the assembly erect a series of forts along the frontier but it wouldn't open new lands of settlements and would be expensive. In 1676, Bacon defied Berkeley's authority by recruiting a small armed force. The rebellion he led was largely of servants, small farmers, and slaves against Virginia's wealthiest planters and political leaders. Bacon despised indigenous people and resolved to kill them all but Berkeley opposed of Bacon's plan because he liked the Indians and wanted to protect his Indian deerskin trade. Bacon ordered the governor arrested but his men burned Jamestown. He fell ill and died a month later. Berkeley quickly regained control. The results of Bacon's rebellion were new lands that were opened to colonists and wealthy planters became more cooperative with small farmers but convinced large planters that they'd be better served by bringing enslaved Africans to work their …show more content…
fields. After 1780, when the Massachusetts legislature adjourned in 1786 without providing paper money or any relief from taxes and debts, western agricultural counties revolted.
In 1786-1787, Daniel Shays, a former captain in the Continental Army led the Shays's Rebellion caused by bad harvests, economic depression, and high taxes that threatened farmers in Massachusetts. Farms were being foreclosed and farmers were imprisoned as debtors. Shays and his men attacked courts in western Massachusetts. Shays and his followers sought a more flexible monetary policy, laws that allow them to use corn and wheat as money, and the right to postpone paying taxes until the postwar agricultural depression lifted. The state government was unable to control Shays and his followers and requested help from the government under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation were viewed as a weak government to maintain law and order. The state government responded by sending 4,400 militiamen armed with cannon in order to defeat the rebellion. Soldiers scattered the debtor army with a single volley that left four farmers dead. The new state legislature decided to relieve the agricultural crisis by eliminating taxes on farmers. Shays' Rebellion showed that the government under Articles of Confederation isn't strong enough and led to the development of a strong central government under the Constitution. This rebellion gave conservatism and nationalism across the new United States. Shays'
Rebellion came to symbolize the widespread discontent manifested throughout New England during economic depression. Both rebellions were sparked by economic and political grievances against authority that was perceived as distant and arbitrary. These uprisings had transformational roles: Bacon's rebellion helped weaken the indentured servant system and Shays's rebellion undermined the support for the Articles of Confederation. These rebellions were different by their causes and significance. Bacon's rebellion was caused by Virginia frontiersmen seeking land clashed with Indians, these frontiersmen demanded help from the government, and Jamestown refused aid in fear of Indian War. Bacon's significance of the rebellion was a colonial rebellion against government authority, clashes between east/west, and poor/rich, Tidewater's discrimination against frontiersmen, and a revision of indentured servant system. Shays's rebellion was caused by unfair taxes in Massachusetts, farmers imprisoned as debtors, and farms foreclosed. Shays's significance of his rebellion was an uprising threat to property, a threat that the rebellion could spread to other states, Articles of Confederation was a weak government to maintain law and order, and a blostered call for a revision of Articles.
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
Many people know about the Revolutionary war and how the colonists seized their independence from the British. What most do not understand is that there was a series of events that steared the colonists onto the road to independence. They began to think for themselves and started to challenge authority. Coming to the New World, the colonists reached for power and financial opportunity when challenging authority in these three examples: the Witchcraft Trials, Bacon’s Rebellion, and the Boston Tea Party.
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.
The states, in which Shays rebellion has taken place, were becoming unjust/unfair the way in which the state collected taxes. Since the Articles of Confederation was a complete failure, the founding fathers had to draft the active construction and choose a new system of government. According to article 2 “The state government will retain all powers that are not specifically given to the national Congress.. ” (Williamsburg, 2009)
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.
...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.
In the Summer of 1787, fifty-five delegates representing 12 out of the 13 states in Philadelphia to fix the Articles of Confederation. They met in philadelphia because the Articles of Confederation was too weak. Shay’s rebellion was the end of the Articles of Confederation bringing down the whole network calling for a change of government. They did this to prevent a tyrant or tyranny. A tyrant/tyranny is when someone or a group abuses their power.
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
With every piece of history, behind them were tensions. Bacon’s Rebellion took place in Jamestown, Virginia in 1676, led by Nathaniel Bacon. Sir William Berkeley, the royal governor of Virginia, adopted policies that favored the large planters. He also angered farmers on Virginia's western frontier because he failed to protect their settlements from Indian attacks. Nathaniel Bacon was upset due to how Berkeley was leading colony and led a rebellion against Berkeley's government. He raised an army of volunteers and conducted a series of raids against Indian villages a...
Many Americans tried to return to their old lives after the Revolutionary War. It was easy for some, but it was difficult or near impossible for the others. Many farmers had a hard time reverting to their post-revolutionary ways and ordeals, and this proved challenging. Suffering from high debt, farmers in central Massachusetts and western Massachusetts tried to start over and build new lives. The government, on the other hand, did nothing to assist Americans who were trying to return to their lives from the brutality of war. Farmers were put were imprisoned by law enforcement for lack of paying off their debts. All of these issues caused a small rebellion which grew into one of the largest armed rebellions after the Revolutionary War. The leader of the Rebellion, Daniel Shays, later called his band of angry farmers Shays’ Rebellion. Shays’ Rebellion was a poorly planned and unnecessary revolt hurting the cause it meant to help.
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.
The Articles of Confederation was the first government of the United States. The Articles had created a very weak national government. At the time the Articles were approved, they had served the will of the people. Americans had just fought a war to get freedom from a great national authority--King George III (Patterson 34). But after this government was put to use, it was evident that it was not going to keep peace between the states. The conflicts got so frequent and malicious that George Washington wondered if the “United” States should be called a Union (Patterson 35). Shays’ Rebellion finally made it evident to the public that the government needed a change.
He purchased the Curles Neck Tobacco Plantation in Henrico County. Nathaniel Bacon then decided to trade with the local Indians in competition with Sir William Berkeley. Which made a fierce rivalry between the two men. On March 3, 1675, Sir William Berkeley appoints the wealthy and powerful Nathaniel Bacon as one of several new members of the Virginia Council of State. Farmers also demanded that Powhatan Indians should be removed from their protected lands. The resentment of the Indians leads to a series of conflicts with the Doeg tribe. Many of the indians were killed. In November, the Susquehannock held out for six weeks. When five chiefs came out to parley, the colonists attacked and killed them. In 1676 the Colonists, including Nathaniel Bacon, were furious because they raised taxes and the low prices for tobacco. Nathaniel Bacon decided to goes against the governor's instructions and prepares to attack friendly Indians. He leads the two unauthorized, but successful, expeditions against the tribes. When he returned to Jamestown, he was arrested and apologizes for his rebellion. When he got out of jail he feared that he could not hold Jamestown against attack and sets fire to the town. He finally controlled the colony, but he dies suddenly of disease. The rebellion continues but without the strong leadership of Nathaniel Bacon. “Then King Charles II of England signs a proclamation to squash the rebellion in Virginia. In 1677 the rebellion falls apart and the rebel army surrenders when promised amnesty. 23 rebel colonists were being tried and were being hung by Governor Berkeley in direct defiance of the crown. Nathaniel Bacon was found guilty of treason and his property was confiscated by the Crown.” This ended Bacon's rebellion and the rebels were defeated. On July 9, 1677, Sir William Berkeley died before he can gain an audience with King
In conclusion, Bacon’s Rebellion of 1675 was one of the most influent acts against American colonial government. First, it unified many different races and socioeconomic classes. Second Bacon’s rebellion was important because it threatens governor Berkley’s government, in Virginia and lastly Bacon’s plan to overthrow the government was the same plan that was use in the America Revolution, thus Bacon’s Rebellion, in 1676, was really an early and model of the American Revolution.
The Articles were ineffective because Congress only had the power to recommend actions to the States. It could not enforce its recommendations or laws. Each State had its own constitution, monetary system, and means to enforce the law. Each State had a stronger commitment to the State laws and to the State's own self interests than to the recommendations of Congress. Regionalism pitted one State against another, which decreased the sense of unity in the country. For example, when Congress recommended an impost, or duty, on imported goods, the State of Rhode Island voted to reject the idea because they felt it was unfair and was against the constitution of the State (Document A). Defending the Articles is tough but not impossible. Even though Shays' Rebellion did not succeed, Congress did get to raise troops which, at the end were not needed (Document G).