revised rough draft #3

The performances of Bacon's Rebellion were a significant time in history. This is true no matter what angle you chose to look at it from. 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. Some say that Nathanial Bacon’s actions were wrong, while part say otherwise. From any way it is looked at, 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 will be expressed throughout the essay, they are voiced in such a way that shows the Government of Virginia is clearly at fault for Bacon's Rebellion, not Nathanial Bacon.ADD MORE

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. While moving to 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 performed. Of course 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 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) 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. 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 weren’t 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) One man that stands the test of all the lower class was the great Nathanial Bacon.

When Berkeley received a complaint from the 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 Burgesses. 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 actually 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 Burgesses…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 as a leader that was on their side.

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.

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. ADDMORE
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