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Critical analysis of the bacons rebellion
Bacon's rebellion turning point essay
Critical analysis of the bacons rebellion
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Bacon’s Rebellion began in 1676 and ended in 1677. It was led by Nathaniel Bacon, a Virginia colonist, who was 29 at the time of the rebellion. Bacon’s Rebellion is considered one of the most complex yet fascinating events in American history because it was the first rebellion in the colonies to include frontiersmen. Historians argued that Bacon’s Rebellion threatened a corrupt government, unified races to take part in the rebellion together, and was a fight for a liberty and equality. It is important to continue studying Bacon’s Rebellion because it is what caused indentured servitude to be replaced with African slavery. In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon, who was a Henrico farmer, led a series of expeditions against the Governor of Virginia, Sir …show more content…
Sir William Berkeley thought to deal with the Indians in a different more diplomatic way, which didn't sit well with Bacon and his followers. In the Spring of 1676 Bacon and his followers went against Berkeley’s instructions, which was to avoid war, and started planning attacks on the Indians. Bacon was successful in leading the two attacks on the Indians and was elected into the House of Burgesses. In May, Governor Berkeley expelled Bacon from the House of Burgesses and marked him as a rebel. Bacon was then arrested, but soon after he was released. In June, after being released, Bacon gathered 500 of his men and stormed Jamestown, ready to attack the Indians. In July, Berkeley ordered his men to fight against Bacon’s rebellions. On July 30th, 1676 Bacon and his followers created the “Declaration of the People” to describe to the colonists and make aware of Berkeley’s wrong doings. Bacon stated that the Governor was creating unjust taxes, not providing the Colonists with protection from the Indians, and creating a monopoly in the Beaver trade. “For having, …show more content…
It was the first rebellion to involve Indians and Frontiersman, which helped to unify different races and social classes in the 1600’s. According to Steve Marinot (2008), “When reinforcements arrived, they found English and Africans together under arms in Bacon's army, and faced the daunting task of reconstructing both the property-oriented economy and a sense of English allegiance.” . The rebellion gave free blacks their rights back and indentured servitude was replaced with slavery, which had a big impact on both the colonies and Native
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
Shays’ Rebellion took place in 1787, when Daniel Shays led a rebellion to seize Federal arsenal to protest debtor’s prisons. Daniel Shays proposed a battle to Luke Day of West Springfield Massachusetts, for a battle on January 5th 1787. Day sent a message to Shays that he would not have his army ready by then, and that the battle should take place January 6th instead. The message never reached Shays, and therefore, he and his army attacked the unarmed, and unorganized army of Day on the 5th. The rebellion shocked and baffled, many U.S. leaders at the time, and eventually led to a few changes to the nations government. It would now become a stronger central government, which was the true basis for what our government is today.
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
Things in Jamestown were good. The people were fed, cared for, and happy. They created their own working government order, but, in a place where everything seems perfect, there is always one man to disagree. In this case, his name was Nathaniel Bacon.
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.
There are many situations in life where a rebellion is required for improvement. For instance, the Stono Rebellion, Pontiac’s War, Shay’s Rebellion, and Bacon’s Rebellion all had the same idea in common, they all wanted change. They all wanted to improve America’s society. The tactic in each rebellion was different, the motives were different, and not all the outcomes were successful. All of these rebellions also had unobvious internal struggles which either weaken or strengthen them. It is likely that Bacon’s Rebellion could have been avoided because it did not leave a positive impact on America’s society. Although, if the Stono Rebellion, Pontiac’s war, and Shay’s Rebellion never occurred the government would not be
Nathaniel Bacon and William Berkley, the governor of Pennsylvania had many differences that stopped them from getting along one of them was their opinion on the Indians in Pennsylvania. Bacon started the rebellion because Berkley did things with out consulting Bacon, which undermined his military authority. It caused King Charles II to send 1,100 troops to Virginia and appoint a commission to determine its causes. The British rule had to get involved and put it in stricter rules, which made it harder for people to get power. Bacons Rebellion promoted people to fight for what they believe in despite its view as non-democratic. Bacons rebellion was seen as putting down democracy because it looked like a quicker way to get to slavery even though it was looked at this way it was the first of many revolutions against the government so it could be seen as a starting point of the American Revolution. Bacons Rebellion showed what seemed to be a separation from English rule.
Freemen who were once indentured servants created problems and disturbances within the colonies, but this was only because the bonds of indentured servitude were temporary -- plantation owners thought of slaves as never having the chance to rebel in the ways that freemen did during Bacon’s Rebellion, and as such their preference for labor shifted further towards slavery and not indentured
People in the Chesapeake colonies were unhappy with the rich aristocrats running the show. Francis Bacon led a revolt in Virginia against Governor Berkeley. He felt that the lack of unity among all citizens was apparent and needed to change. He felt that the government at the time was doing an inadequate job at public work i.e. safety, defense, advancement of trade (Document H). This problem was not present among the citizens of the New England colonies as the goals of the New England citizens were different (Document A).
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.
...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.
The rebellion’s fact and information is very important to help understand American History. The Whiskey Rebellion is viewed now as the make or break situation for which was then the newly uprising government system, American Constitution, right after the American Revolution when the federal government was trying to make itself strong and powerful. So, for the Whiskey Rebellion to take place during this time was what lots of people call, “perfect timing”. This is said because had the Whiskey Rebellion not happened during this time and the government had not acted the way it did against the rebellion, we probably would never know how the government would be in today’s day and how America would be in this day. Washington was trying to stop the rebellion peacefully and with no violence whatsoever. However, by 1794 the protests became violent. In July, nearly 400 whiskey rebels near Pittsburgh set fire to the home of John Neville, the regional tax collection supervisor. This made Washington upset and furious he ordered the military to go up to Pennsylvania and destroy the rebellion and this horrifying event even made Washington put his military uniform once again to defeat the Whiskey Rebellion. Once Washington and his armed military arrived at Pennsylvania every protester in town disappear and basically surrender to Washington and his militia. With the surrender from the protesters this made the American government along
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...
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.
" In conclusion the rebellions of 1837/38 were defeated due to a lack of public support but it opened the eyes of the British to a problem in the colonies. The British began to realize that the system within the colonies was not working and something needed to be done. If these rebellions had not happened, the British would never have taken notice of the problems and who knows, we could still be living under the same system.