1. Support or refute the following statement: “The causes and outcome of Bacon’s Rebellion had a significant impact on Virginian politics.” The causes and outcome of Bacon’s rebellion had effects that were not dramatic enough to significantly impact Virginian politics. Although the movement represented the revolutionary potential of unemployed and landless men, it did not have a tangible effect on the change of leadership or the Virginian policy towards the natives. Bacon’s rebellion was more of a symbol or indicator of the present character of the colony and foreshadowed later events, but it ultimately had no direct effect on Virginian politics because Berkeley ended up maintaining his political influence and control. The rebellion did contribute to the growth of slavery, and it showed how land greedy the settlers were. These indeed were significant effects of the event, but they did not impact Virginian politics. The backcountry men did not have a more powerful presence or influence in Virginia …show more content…
The colonies became a go-to market for the England’s manufacture goods and a steady supplier of raw materials. England applied mercantilism to its colonies by passing strict laws, such as the Navigation Acts, to limit trade with foreign countries and to tax all goods. The West Indies mainly relied on exporting sugar for profit, and more often than not, the English trade restrictions prevented the colonists of the West Indies from maximizing profit. Thus, they frequently snuck around to trade with the French and Spanish. The Navigation Acts had a significant impact on the self sufficiency of the colonies. The colonists began to build their own ships and also made iron, silk, and lumber for themselves. This somewhat economic autonomy would become crucial as the colonists later defy English restrictions and would be a key in sustaining the early United
In the concluding fourth section entitled “Independence” Holton brings the crux of his argument to fruition, arguing convincingly that Virginia's elites were pushed ever further down the road to open rebellion by the actions of several different groups, whose contributions to the founding of the United States have been overlooked by historians. Holton's conclusion offers a vision of pluralistic causation behind the final decision of the gentry class to finally make the break with Britain and highlights the need for further research and study of points raised in this monograph concerning the contributions these marginal groups in the founding of the United States.
The Hamiltonians favored a strong central government, with the elastic clause allowing whatever power “needed” to the government. The elastic clause had a very loose construction. The government should use power to control and help with large trade. The high class people should have control over the people. People in lower classes were not trusted and could not make decisions for the nation. The Whiskey Rebellion was unconstitutional, rude masses of people did not understand the democratic ways, and think they can form a rebellious group every time a law they do not like gets passed. It showed that they need a strong government to prevent that from happeni...
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.
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.
"Governor William Berkely on Bacon's Rebellion 19 May 1676." American History From Revolution to Reconstruction and beyond. http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1651-1700/governor-william-berkely-on-bacons-rebellion-19-may-1676.php
Evaluate the relative importance of three of the following as factors prompting Americans to rebel in 1776.
The three colonial regions blossomed quite differently in terms of economy. English colonists first settled in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. Failing to find gold, however, people in the southern colonies grew tobacco and rice as marketable commodities. Since tobacco plantation was labor-intensive, a large number of the population was indentured servants and black slaves. Because of the high mortality rate and unbalanced sex ratio, headright system was created in order to attract more settlers. In New England, due to the poor soil condition, people mainly relied on fishing, and lumber. Also, the Navigation Acts stimulated shipbuilding industry. The Middle colonies were based on growing grains and trading with European nations as well as other colonies.
In summary, I believe colonial society had changed greatly from Winthrop's days to Franklin's. This is beneficial because we see how society is able to stray from the path of religion and venture onto other ideas that would have otherwise been discouraged. Benjamin Franklin was able to detach himself from traditional religion to expand his ability to experiment with science where as John Winthrop remained narrow minded because of his dedication to his religious beliefs.
The similarities that present Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, Nathaniel Bacon, The Stonos Rebellion, and James Davenport are based mostly in an attitude against of the system of the government or rules of the society.
The British also implemented new taxes. The Sugar act of 1764 sought to reduce smuggling, which occurred partly as a result of the earlier Molasses Act. This gave British possessions in the Caribbean the upper hand in sugar trade, which in the British view helped the empire as a whole, but to Americans, and especially the merchants, this put limits on their opportunities. The Currency Act, passed about this time forbade the printing of colonial currency. British merchants benefited because they didn't have to deal with inflated American currencies. The Americans felt they were at an economic disadvantage as very little sterli...
...fersonian Republican Party, they were the opposition throughout this episode. Opposition or not the Washington administration got results. National authority had been asserted and ratified by the nation’s people. State governments after this point would be more accepting and willing to enforce federal laws. This is a vital feature of our government today, to surrender individuality for the greater good of the nation is what the states that made up our country had to learn to do. With this rebellion brought the opportunity for them to do so, we would now be united by more than our independence but also by the need to maintain a civilized and strong government. By doing so the nation would also insure its newly attained independence. We would not be conquered during a time of inner anxiety nor would we surrender ourselves in doubt of our own government’s capability.
Wolfe, Brendan. "Colonial Virginia." Encyclopedia Virginia:. Encyclopedia Virginia, 22 Feb. 2012. Web. 09 Feb. 2014. .
Do you know who led the Virginia Patriots into the American Revolution? It was George Mason that led the Virginia patriots. In this essay you will learn about the life of George Mason and how he led the Virginia patriots to the American Revolution.
One facet of this unique system involved the numerous economic differences between England and the colonies. The English government subscribed to the economic theory of mercantilism, which demanded that the individual subordinate his economic activity to the interests of the state (Text, 49). In order to promote mercantilism in all her colonies, Great Britain passed the Navigation Acts in 1651, which controlled the output of British holdings by subsidizing. Under the Navigation Acts, each holding was assigned a product, and the Crown dictated the quantity to be produced. The West Indies, for example, were assigned sugar production and any other colony exporting sugar would face stiff penalties (Text, 50). This was done in order to ensure the economic prosperity of King Charles II, but it also served to restrict economic freedom. The geographical layout of the American colonies made mercantilism impractical there. The cit...
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 to the problems and who knows we could still be living under the same system. Although these rebellions failed they did succeed in getting the attention of the British and put us on the road towards responsible government in Canada and the system we now have in place.