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Bacon's Rebellion

Nathaniel Bacon 

Virginian Colonist 

1647 - 1676

 

Location and Date 

The Location of the Bacon's Rebellion conflict was primarily in the tidewater region of virginia (Jamestown), but somewhat also inland towards the blue ridge mountains("Bacon's Rebellion" "n.d."). This Virginian rebellion took place in the year of 1676, roughly 100 years before the revolutionary war("Bacon's Rebellion" "n.d"). 

Leaders of the Bacon Rebellion

Nathaniel Bacon was the main leader of the Bacon rebellion, hence the name. Bacon came to the new world and severed his 7 years as an indentured servant, then moved out west closer to the blue ridge mountains where there was more land ("The Annals of America" 255). Bacon, along with many other former indentured servants began searching for land to begin their new world dream, but they hit a road block when they met up with the Native Americans("The Annals of America" 255). 

What Groups were brought into the conflict?

Bacon, along with many other indentured servants, ran into conflict with the native Americans when they were searching for their own land ("Bacon's Rebellion" "n.d."). Bacon decided to go to the house of burgesses to ask for assistance in fighting off the Native Americans, but what Bacon did not know was that the house of burgesses had a secret trade deal with those Native Americans, so they denied his request for assistance ("Bacon's Rebellion" "n.d."). Since the house of burgesses denied his request, Bacon and his followers traveled to Jamestown and burned down parts of the region ("Bacon's Rebellion" "n.d."). Bacon and his followers then traveled back to their farms probably waiting for a fight, but Bacon got a fever and died quite suddenly ("Bacon's Rebellion" "n.d."). 

Brief chronology of conflict 

  1. July 1675: Border warfare with Susquehannocks ("the largest" "Edmund Morgan"). 

  2. Jan. 1676: Susquehannocks retaliate and kill 36 frontier settlers ("the largest" "Edmund Morgan"). 

  3. March 1676: VA Assembly meets to form Indian policy ("the largest" "Edmund Morgan").

  4. April 1676: Bacon emerges as rebel leader, attacks friendly tribes Map ("the largest" "Edmund Morgan"). 

  5. June to July, 1676: Demands by Rebels polarized politics; 

  6. sacking of Jamestown despite gestures of appeasement and capitulation to rebel's demands ("the largest" "Edmund Morgan"). 

  7. Oct. 26, 1676: Bacon dies of fever  ("the largest" "Edmund Morgan"). 

  8. Feb. 1677: Royal Commission finds Berkeley at fault ("the largest" "Edmund Morgan"). 

  9. July 9, 1677: Berkeley dies in England ("the largest" "Edmund Morgan"). 

Consequences of conflict 

After Bacon died, and the rebellion subsided, the aristocrats and the house of burgesses had to come up with a plan to lessen the number of indentured servants searching for their own land ("Bacon's Rebellion" "n.d."). Their new idea was to bring slavery into the country because it is free labor, and they wont ever start significant conflics because they dont have any rights("Bacon's Rebellion" "n.d.").  Due to the number of freed indentured servants rebelling, the number of slaves being bought sky rocketed("Bacon's Rebellion" "n.d.").  

How this conflict contributed to the American identity. 

The Bacons Rebellion contributed to the American identity because it was one of the first significant conflicts where a normal citizen showed their self worth by standing up for what they believed in. This conflict was the begining of the idea Americans have that if we do not like someone who is in office we will either kick you out, or fight. 

Bibliography 

  • "Nathaniel Bacon - Social Studies." Social Studies. N.p., 21 Sept. 2015. Web. 10 Oct. 2015. 

  • "Bacon's Rebellion:"the Largest Popular Uprising in the Colonies before the American Revolution"" Bacon's Rebellion. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2015. 

  • The Annals of America. Chicago: Encylopaedia Britannica, 1976. Print. 

  • Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Print.

  • "Bacon's Rebellion - 5 Minute History Lesson - Quick Summary." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

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