The time period in which Bacon's Rebellion occurred was a compelling moment in history. This is true no matter what angle it is looked upon. Some say Nathanial Bacon's actions were horrible, while others view him as a hero. Bacon's Rebellion was highly significant because it was an event that interfered with authority, defiance, confrontation, struggle, and evidently, no solution. Although the rebellion was officially started by a man named Nathanial Bacon, it is not necessarily his fault. The rebellion was a ripple effect. The downfall of a leader’s disappointment to colonists, led to the effective strength of one colonist taking a stand. Nathanial Bacon had great influence in Virginia. He impelled the lower class to make a difference. He challenged the government to be stronger. He most definitely affected the lifestyles of those in Virginia during that time period. While satisfying the people behind him, he caused a major ruckus for those who despised him. As all these interferences are expressed, they are voiced in such a way that shows the Government of Virginia is clearly at fault for Bacon's Rebellion, not Nathanial Bacon.
During the 17c, William Berkeley was appointed Governor of Virginia by the King of England. It would soon come to be that Governor Berkeley's control of the government would be a major contribution to Bacon's Rebellion. One factor for this is that Governor Berkeley met the needs and satisfactions of the upper class, leaving the lower class--mostly farmers-- out of the picture. When the colonists first arrived to the new Virginian lands, Berkeley allowed his colony to settle on native lands. During the transition into native lands, Berkeley also wanted to befriend the natives, without consulting ahead of time to see exactly what he was getting himself, and his colony into. The colony of Virginia knew nothing about the Natives and their lifestyles. Taking land from these people, then trying to become friends with them was not the smartest action Berkeley lead his colonists to. Maybe Berkeley was doing what he thought was best for his colony, but poor decision making came from the fact that Berkeley was new to the New World, just like all the colonists, allowing him to make naive adjustments.
As the colonist settled to the new lands, so did conflict. Problems from petty to serious matters between the natives and colonists commonly resulted in murder “...I am sure if the Indian were not cowards, they might have destroyed all the upper plantations and killed all the people upon them” (Doc #9). The horrible murders and events brought the colonist to their leader, Governor Berkeley. They went to him for help and guidance against the natives hoping for an answer; for a stop to the madness. Unfortunately, Berkeley did just the opposite for the needs of his people. Instead of stepping up as a leader, Berkeley merely embraced the Natives for trading matters "The colonial governor was making a good profit from trading with the Indians, and was not willing to disrupt that business by triggering open war (Virginiaplaces.org). Selfishly more concerned with the economy of Virginia, than the innocent lives of people is visibly what Berkeley was choosing. Governor Berkeley made poor decisions while serving the colony of Virginia“The Governor much their friend, that he would not suffer any body to hurt one of the Indians, and he would be very much concerned for the loss of his Overseer...” (Doc #9) His people were simply unprotected against the Indians. There were wars every day between the colonists and the Indians. While this occurred on a daily basis, Governor Berkeley was taking no action. This put the colonists in a position to continuously get hurt. “The unsatisfied People finding themselves still liable to the Indian cruelties…” (Doc #16). Complaint after complaint, he finally made little effort. To make an appearance of attempt, Governor Berkeley came up with a “solution”. Claiming to help end the acts of destruction, his response was to vaguely build forts for protection “What care the Assembly took to prevent these massacres was only to build forts at the heads of each river and on the frontiers and confines of the country…” (Doc#16). This did no good, for the Indians were not as inexperienced as Berkeley thought. In fact, the Indians were able to dominate the forts that were solemnly made to put them down. Putting forts up only at the heads of rivers and frontiers made the colonists look silly and foolish.
During this time period, there were basically two types of social rank. The upper class--usually made up of rich plantation owners, and the lower class that included indentured servants and necessitous farmers. Governor Berkeley favored the higher rank in the social class as they greatly admired him. For obvious reasons, it was more satisfactory to please the people with wealth. The people of the lower class were not being heard nor being reassured of their needs from the leadership of the colony. This made many lower class men furious, causing an up roar of rebellious men “Bacon’s Rebellion brought together groups from the lower classes. They were angry too—mostly about the huge gap between the rich and poor in Virginia” (Zinn, pg. 36). When Berkeley received a complaint from a lower class colonist, Nathanial Bacon, it would not be the last time Berkeley would have an encounter with him. Bacon was upset because natives had killed his friend and servant. When feeling no help from the Governor, Bacon became even more upset. Little did Berkeley know, sitting back and choosing to ignore the people's cry for help, would give Bacon the authority to pass Berkeley up for revenge and power “The frontiersmen felt that the colonial government had let them down…They were angry and they weren’t the only ones” (Zinn pg. 36)
Nathanial Bacon had many men that that completely agreed with him, giving him strong support “In 1676, these unhappy Virginians found a leader in Nathanial Bacon” (Zinn pg. 37) Bacon took advantage of this and was able to become a leader in the House of Burgess's. Nathanial Bacon had passion in what he was pursuing. He cared deeply about his rights and fighting for what he believed in. Even though the leaders were against him, he kept pushing. Bacon literally got his motivation from the fact that people were against him. His desire came from having no response from the government, no response for a problem that needed to be solved immediately. “They elected Bacon to the colonial government, called the House of Burgess's…Bacon was ready to send armed militias or armed groups of citizens to fight the Indians”(Zinn pg.37) The mediocre men of Virginia were very complimentary to Bacon because they felt like someone took a chance to be a leader that was on their side. The great rebel's actions were altogether opposite of the Governor's. Governor Berkeley has no affection for the lower class as opposed to the upper class. The trifling governor intentionally pushed away the community of people that needed him the most. That is where Nathanial Bacon is most successful. The people looked up to him because he came and cleaned up after Governor Berkeley's messy tactics for taking care of the great Virginia colony.
Coming to the New World was opening the door to endless opportunity. Although the colony was not even a country or a nation yet, freedom was everywhere. Freedom was throughout laws and rules. Freedom was the colonist coming to the New World to start a fresh beginning. Bacon stood up for what he believed and broke through for rights; for freedom. He wanted to be noticed, to be heard and he very well accomplished that. By doing so, he set his stone in history. This is carried throughout each generation. A strong representation of this is going on today is strikes. Whether it’s for businesses, politics, laws, or just any given right, people have the opportunity to go on strike. The fact that people have the freedom to strike against something they don't agree with is gratifying. When communities of people go on strike, it is powerful. Their voices are heard and they have the ability to make change to a great extent. Going on strike is a form of rebellion against the rules and laws regulated. Just like Bacon’s Rebellion, Nathanial Bacon went against the rules. This event in history has been one link in the chain to why our wonderful country is known for its independence and freedom to this day.
It is truly sad that within communities, there are sides you have to chose to live by. The colony of Virginia was a crisp, new environment, yet people were already divided by rich and poor. Nathanial Bacon was shunned by most just because he was reaching out past the lower class. In most cases for history events, the heroes were rejected in their lives. When looking back on heroes, or simply people that are remembered for making a difference, is when all truth unfolds. The greatness of looking at Bacon's Rebellion from a bird's eye view, hundreds of years later, is very beneficial. Being able to see all of the Rebel's work gives a great aspect of how Nathanial Bacon made a change. Even though Nathanial Bacon was greatly looked down upon from the Government of Virginia and the upper class of his generation, Bacon made a difference. He fought for what needed to be done in his colony against the natives. Nathanial Bacon was definitely noticed and over all, and proved distinction in history.
Although Governor Berkeley does not get as much praise as Nathanial Bacon, he is a major reason for why Bacon's Rebellion is studied throughout history. Governor Berkeley gave Nathanial Bacon something to do; something to stand against. These men were both powerful because they challenged each other's weaknesses and strengths. The Government is at fault for Bacon's Rebellion because they chose to ignore red flags. If Governor Berkeley would have compassionately answered the request of his lower class, then Bacon would have not created the rebellion, with hundreds of men behind him. The outcome shows the strong rebel had to be defiant in order for lives to be protected in the lower class. The fate of this rebellion clearly represents the government of Virginia was sincerely ignorant.
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