Bacons Rebellion

Bacons Rebellion

Introduction

Nathaniel Bacons Rebellion is considered the first documented American rebellion during the colonial in the United States hence it is remembered to have ignited a huge literary activity. Governor Berkeley having taken the royal side during the English Protectorate was forced to resign his duty in 1676. However, he was reinstated at the restoration and this made him to do away with the Burgesses election of biennial[1]. Governor Berkeley was known to be corrupt and not ready to give the colonists enough protection from Indian massacres and raids. This created an increasing discontent that required a leader who could make drastic changes from rebellion. Therefore, Nathaniel Bacon was recognized to be a leader who could rescue people from the harsh leadership of Governor Berkeley. Nathaniel Bacon was a young wealthy man and the best English trainer who rebelled against the governor’s rule by taking another course against the Indians. He received enough support from the citizens especially the farmers of tobacco and other poor whites. Nathaniel Bacon was later called a traitor by Governor Berkeley. Bacon’s law was put in place with patterns of reform measures and later was elected as commander in chief against the Indians.

Thesis statement

Bacon slaughtered a huge number of Native American Indians. In addition, he demonstrated that poor whites and blacks could unite for a cause in which put fear in the rich and the government. He was however viewed as a hero in American history because he tried to create unity among the communities, but to a large extent, he was just a mass murderer as it is demonstrated during his reign in the 17^th century in the American history.

During this period of Bacon Rebellion, there was high rate of loss of lives of both the whites and those of the Native Americans. Before the end of the Rebellion, the colonial government was in total disarray. This was a period where no political leader won the war and no one wanted to be defeated. Thus, through this rebellion period, a seed of independence was created some years before the revolution in America was experienced.

Nathaniel Bacon was considered a hero in American history especially at the time when Virginia was experiencing a multitude of hardships. For instance, there was depression in the prices of tobacco because the colonists had been stopped from selling their products to the French consumers; even the Dutch ships were forbidden from trading together with Virginia. Slavery for the blacks was reinforced by the Virginia House of Burgesses, yet the cost of growing tobacco was very high[2]. Therefore, these problems made people to be very disappointed and hence they were ready and willing to leave their unproductive employments and demonstrate against the Indians. Nathaniel Bacon joined hands with the rest of the demonstrating group to show how he was concerned about people’s grievances. Nathaniel Bacon was viewed as a man who was qualified to lead a multitude of people because of his boldness and active nature. Therefore, because of his high qualifications, he was elected to be one of the council in great honor and esteem among the people. Nathaniel Bacon’s heroism was also seen when he provoked the Indian misbehaviors, demonstrating that they were programmed for the need of a due regulation of their trade. Nathaniel Bacon thought keenly on the grievances and pressures that people had complained to him. Unfortunately, it was all his pretence that he had listened to them and that he was going to fight and endure all the difficulties and dangers in order to rescue people and the entire country from such problems. He a made a promise to people that he was not going to stop until he revenges their misfortunes upon the Indians and dealt with all their other problems. Due to his positive intentions to help people with their problems, Nathaniel Bacon was considered a hero. This is because he had accepted to endure all the dangers and hardships associated with war.

Nathaniel Bacon represented all the misfortunes of his people; however, in real sense he had his own intentions of owning or having the power to secure a monopoly of the Indian trade and his friends. This illustrates the argument that although Bacon was viewed as a hero, largely was just a mass murderer. For instance, after being elected the leader, Bacon and his men followed the Susquehanock group by killing many people inclusive of men, women and children respectively in the villages. On their return, they noted that governor Berkeley had summoned for new election in order to improve the problems Indian’s were going through[3]. Later, Bacon demanded to be given a commission so that he could lead the military against the Indians. The governor Berkeley was hesitant about that idea and Bacon and his group used force to get the commission. Bacon was promised the commission without much struggle if only he could behave well by not causing deaths for about two weeks, but he never achieved this because he was used in murdering people. This is shown where even before days passed after making that promise; about seven colonists had been rendered to death in Henrico County because he felt they were not providing enough work forces that were required. This is a clear demonstration to show how Nathaniel Bacon was extremely a murderer despite his fight to rescue the citizens against the mischief of the Indians.

People of Virginia were issued with a declaration that mostly was against the administration of Governor Berkeley. It criticized Berkeley for his unfair levying of taxes on people, employing only his close friends to better positions in workforce, and not providing enough protection to war fighters from the attacks of the Indian government. In 1676, bacon changed his attitude towards the Indian and he and his group attacked very innocent group by the name of Pamunkey. These were friends with the Virginian community and they could supply soldiers to the English before Bacon was elected into power. Therefore, it is true to say that, Bacon’s main aim in his leadership was based on murdering people without giving it a thought. This is because anyone who opposed or did against his wishes was put to death.

The slaughter of the Indians in Nathaniel Bacon’s cause against the government was to some extent necessary. Nathaniel Bacon knew that by attacking the Indians and killing, he was going to win the government because the government intended to retain a friendly, pacified Indian presence on the colony’s western edge[4]. The government was ready to lowers the pressure of the English on Indian lands, but since Bacon’s fight was against the Indians, he could not settle for this. For instance, the government of Virginia under the leadership of Berkeley was in favor of the Indians, thus hardening the lives of the Native Americans and other poor whites. There were many complaints about the sufferings of the people like paying heavy taxes, depressed prices of tobacco sales, and unhappiness with laws established by the English government. All these sufferings were because of the troubles caused by the Indians and Governor Berkeley was not taking any urgent action to solve those issues. Therefore, Nathaniel Bacon realized that, the only way to help solve the sufferings of the people, attacking and killing the Indians was called for.

The slaughter of the Indians in Nathaniel Bacon’s cause against the government was necessary because it helped reduce the anxiety of the local militia. The people had grown tired out of the multitude problems that they faced. Therefore, they were very anxiously waiting for the government to take an action that could help solve their problems[5]. However, the government under the leadership of Berkeley was very reluctant in doing anything thus with the help of people, Bacon took that chance to retaliate against the local Indians causing deaths to multitudes of the Indians. Unfortunately, the Indians that were attacked were very innocent which led them to also fight back as revenge. Due to this tension within the country, the governor reacted by calling for reconciliation with Nathaniel Bacon because he knew that Bacon was able to cause more harm to the Indians if no action was taken. Therefore, after the reconciliatory meeting, Bacon was granted a chance in the council. Hence, because of his bold action of attacking the Indians, Bacon got was given a position in the council.

The war was renewed again after Governor Berkeley having failed to present a formal commission to Bacon and to allow him to proceed with his campaign against the Indians. Due to this failure, Bacon and his army group went to Jamestown and attacked the city killing a good number of men, women, and children respectively. This made the governor Berkeley to issue the commission to Bacon and even was forced to include into the law of series of legislative acts referred to as “Bacon’s Law”. However, the whole event ended immediately after the death of Bacon from dysentery.

Bacons Rebellion was among the first historical American rebellion during the colonial in United States thus, it is recognized to have caused a huge literary activity. Governor Berkeley having taken the royal side during the English Protectorate was forced to resign his duty in 1676. However, he was reinstated at the restoration and this made him to do away with the Burgesses election of biennial. Governor Berkeley’s administration was considered to unfair in terms of levying of heavy  taxes on people, employing only close friends to better and higher positions in workforce, and failing to give enough protection to war fighters from the attacks of the Indian government. Nathaniel Bacon was viewed a hero in American history especially at the time when Virginia was experiencing a multitude of hardships. This is because he came out as a good leader who could fight for the grievances of the weak and poor people that were being discriminated. However, Nathaniel Bacon had a weakness in his reign in that; he killed many people other than saving their lives. This therefore, makes him to have been more of a mass murderer other than a hero. He could attack and kill very innocent people in pretence of fighting against the Indians.

The slaughter of the Indians in Nathaniel Bacon’s cause against the government was to some extent necessary. This is because through this, he was able to fight for the rights of the people who were suffering because of expensive life made by the government. Most of the sufferings were caused by the Indians and Governor Berkeley was not taking any urgent action to solve those issues since it was on the side of the Indians. Therefore, Nathaniel Bacon realized that, the only way to solve the sufferings of the people, attacking and killing the Indians was necessary. In addition, by being hostile to the Indians, he managed to acquire a formal commission from Governor Berkeley. However, it was not necessary to attack and kill the Indians for Bacon to show the government that he was not pleased with it. There could have been better ways of solving issues. For instance, for the sake of an innocent life, Bacon could have opted for enhanced measures such as peace talk, developing cooperation within the different groups among other better measures.

Bibliography

Beverley, Robert. “On Bacon’s rebellion.” On Bacon’s Rebellion (Beverley) (2009): 1.

Henretta, James and David Brody. America: A Concise History, Volume I: To 1877. 4^th ed., Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010.

Tarter, Brent. “Bacon’s Rebellion, the Grievances of the People, and the Political Culture of Seventeenth-Century Virginia.” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 119, no.1 (2011): 2-41

Tom, Costa. Samuel Wiseman’s Book of Record: The Official Account of Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia, 1676-1677. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2006.

Westbury, Susan. “Theatre and Power in Bacon’s Rebellion: Virginia, 1676-77.” Seventeenth Century 19, no. 1 (2009): 69-86.