The year is 1676. The colony of Virginia, after years of hardship, is finally going through a period of growth that would later define these early years of the colonies. Virginia, a royal charter, was the center of commerce in the new world, their past years of struggle long behind them. But with this newfound importance came another form of unrest, unrest against the very hand that fed them, the British. With the favoritism of the rich plantation grandees, as well as the presence of British government looming over them, it wasn’t long before the settlers of Virginia began rising up against the English. These ill feelings led to a series of smaller revolution that would eventually lead to the most important event in American history, the American Revolution. The first, as well as the most powerful of these smaller skirmishes, was Bacon’s revolution.
As more and more people came over to Europe in order to get involved with the tobacco industry, more and more space was needed. Since not all off the people could fit into the mineral rich area of the Chesapeake Bay, more and more poorer farmers, or yeoman, were forced into buying land in the interior part of the colonies. This land, as well as not being as good as the Chesapeake bay land, was also constantly attacked and pillaged by the Powatan Indians, who had long been fighting against the settlers. The yeomen, tired of the Indian escapades, desperately wanted to launch attacks on the Powatans in order to protect their farms. The governor of Virginia, William Berkley, denied the yeoman’s claims, fearing that raids against the Powatans would lead to problems with the tobacco trade.
When Nathaniel Bacon, a fellow yeoman, decided to put his name in to be a part of the House of Burgesses, and his acceptance was denied, the people decided it was time to take their issues into their own hands. Led and rallied by Nathaniel Bacon, slaves, yeomen, and grandees alike launched a raid on the Powatans. This same group even went on to run William Berkley out of his estate in Jamestown, and ultimately set the capital aflame. In order to prove how unfit William Berkley was, Nathaniel Bacon with his followers even created a document commonly referred to as Bacon’s laws, which spoke of the many wrongdoings William Berkley had made against the people, as well as what the colony of Virginia should do in order to make things equal for the yeomen. These rebels continued attacking various parts of the Chesapeake Bay, until British merchant ships came to Berkley’s aide to settle the feud. In October of 1667, Nathaniel Bacon died of dysentery, and with him the revolution. Without their figurehead, it wasn’t long until the people could not put up a fight against the might of the British.
Although they were never able to run the Indians out of Virginia, their original task, Bacon’s followers proved to be successful when William Berkley was recalled to England, until he eventually came back to return to his position as governor.
This revolution not only marked the first of many skirmishes against the British in with the colonies, but a new era for the colonies. They were no longer going to stand for the injustices harbored against them, but were ready to put up a fight in order to receive what was rightfully theirs. With the seeds of a revolution planted, it wasn’t going to be long before the people moved on from small feuds and united together into a full revolution, a revolution that would forever change the world.
As more and more people came over to Europe in order to get involved with the tobacco industry, more and more space was needed. Since not all off the people could fit into the mineral rich area of the Chesapeake Bay, more and more poorer farmers, or yeoman, were forced into buying land in the interior part of the colonies. This land, as well as not being as good as the Chesapeake bay land, was also constantly attacked and pillaged by the Powatan Indians, who had long been fighting against the settlers. The yeomen, tired of the Indian escapades, desperately wanted to launch attacks on the Powatans in order to protect their farms. The governor of Virginia, William Berkley, denied the yeoman’s claims, fearing that raids against the Powatans would lead to problems with the tobacco trade.
When Nathaniel Bacon, a fellow yeoman, decided to put his name in to be a part of the House of Burgesses, and his acceptance was denied, the people decided it was time to take their issues into their own hands. Led and rallied by Nathaniel Bacon, slaves, yeomen, and grandees alike launched a raid on the Powatans. This same group even went on to run William Berkley out of his estate in Jamestown, and ultimately set the capital aflame. In order to prove how unfit William Berkley was, Nathaniel Bacon with his followers even created a document commonly referred to as Bacon’s laws, which spoke of the many wrongdoings William Berkley had made against the people, as well as what the colony of Virginia should do in order to make things equal for the yeomen. These rebels continued attacking various parts of the Chesapeake Bay, until British merchant ships came to Berkley’s aide to settle the feud. In October of 1667, Nathaniel Bacon died of dysentery, and with him the revolution. Without their figurehead, it wasn’t long until the people could not put up a fight against the might of the British.
Although they were never able to run the Indians out of Virginia, their original task, Bacon’s followers proved to be successful when William Berkley was recalled to England, until he eventually came back to return to his position as governor.
This revolution not only marked the first of many skirmishes against the British in with the colonies, but a new era for the colonies. They were no longer going to stand for the injustices harbored against them, but were ready to put up a fight in order to receive what was rightfully theirs. With the seeds of a revolution planted, it wasn’t going to be long before the people moved on from small feuds and united together into a full revolution, a revolution that would forever change the world.