Bacon's Declaration And Remonstrance Of Sir William Berkeley

845 Words2 Pages

Brianna Dixon
Paper 1, HIS 211
Prof. Pinnen
BJDixon@mc.edu
23 September 2015

In “Bacon's Declaration in the Name of the People” and “The declaration and Remonstrance of Sir William Berkeley his most sacred Majesties Governor and Captain General of Virginia”, they were pretending to be for the people and the king. They put on a facade to cover up their true intentions. Both Nathaniel Bacon and William Berkeley were insistent on discrediting the other by suggesting disloyalty. There was no way to end their debacle calmly. Nathaniel Bacon attempted to damage William Berkeley’s reputation by accusing Berkeley of not protecting the people in the Colony. He wanted to show why he should lead the people of Virginia. Berkeley had certain people …show more content…

Berkeley recounted his achievements before and while being governor. He was one who protected the people from the Indians during the war. He disputed Bacon’s claim of not treating everyone equally in the colony. Berkeley said that he valued and considered everyone’s vote when deciding on laws. He stressed that he did everything he could to protect the people. Berkeley justified his actions of not immediately killing the Indians because he says that he did not know that they were committing such horrid acts against the people of the colony (Governor William Berkely on Bacon's Rebellion 19 May …show more content…

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. Nathaniel Bacon and William Berkeley used their commitment to the Crown to pretend they were doing things to uphold the King’s laws. Each portrayed the other as following his own agenda. They wanted the people to feel like they were right and pleasing the King. Bacon and Berkeley used the Crown as a justification for their acts. If people believed the King was on their side, then they would believe their declaration. Based on his declaration, some may think that he was representing all of the people in Virginia. Bacon insisted that his declaration was for the people, but there was not much evidence to prove his claim. The declaration may have suggested the economic and social status of his followers were lower-class by referring to them as “Comonality” (Bacon's Declaration in the Name of the People 30 July 1676). This term could mean that the majority of the people were not

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