-----Our nation’s history is filled with cruel injustice that was done through the hands of our leaders. The year 1676 contains events that made memorable and influential marks in history. Such events occurred because of a man named Nathaniel Bacon. These affairs are titled as "Bacon's Rebellion". This uprising took place in the Virginia colonies in the 1700s. Bacon and other followers were discontent with government conditions and decided to take matters into their own hands. The government made peace treaties with the Indians about what land was rightfully theirs. When poor settlers complained about Indians and the need for land, the government denied them because the Native Americans were useful to the government because of their fur trade that made great income. Also, some Indians were used as spies for the colonies' advantage. But this peace would soon be destroyed by Bacon. Although he was a wise, courageous, and generous person, he burned with hatred towards the poor Indians. The colonists saw great leader potential in Bacon and were sure he would lead them into wealth and out of a state of poverty.
-----These angry colonists were against two groups: the Indians and the colonists' rich leaders. Servants and even blacks joined in the rebellion as stated in A Young People's History of the United Sates, "Then white servants and black slaves joined the rebellion. They were angry, too- mostly about the huge gap between rich and poor" (Zinn and Stefoff, 36). The economy of Virginia was horrible because taxes were high and the cost of tobacco was extremely low and by the 1670s rich landowners had possession of a majority of eastern Virginia. The Government wanted to obtain more power and wealth and therefore brought over masses of indentured servants, which then resulted in a need for land. Since Bacon and his band of men received no help from the government, they "rebelled" against it and began planning schemes and methods of attack. As stated by the quarterly historical magazine, "Bacon assumed command of the volunteers, and, being denied a commission from Governor Berkeley, marched out against the Indians without one" (Bacon's Rebellion). When it comes to the topic of Bacon's Rebellion, most of us would readily agree that Bacon had a vast amount of farmers, servants, blacks, and colonists on his side. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of how the Indians, who were not as intelligent or as big in number, were able to go almost unnoticed and take the lives of so many of them. Whereas some are convinced that Bacon had over five-hundred men, others maintain that he had one-thousand or more.
-----One huge problem that the Virginians faced were the Native Americans. They inhabited most of the land that Bacon wanted possession of and were sharp with devious tactics. According to Document #6, "For the Indians quickly found out where about these Mouse traps were sett, and for what purpose, and so resalved to keepe out of danger; which they might easily enough do, with out any detriment to there designes" (47 Documents, #6). Bacon saw the Indians as unpredictable and a threat to the colonies. In the book, Whether They Be Friends or Foes, Michael J. Puglisi maintains that, "...suspicions ran high against all Indians, regardless of their status with the colonists" (Puglisi, 78). Because of the Natives' unruly behavior and unnoticeable distinctions between good and bad, Bacon was given more incentive to attack the Indians in an angry rage. As explained in Document #13, "Bacon had gone over the [James] River with his forces and hastening away into the woods, went directly and feel upon the Indians and killed some of them [which] were some of our best Friends .... the people [would not] understand any distinction of Friendly Indians and Indian Enemies, for at that time it was impossible to distinguish one nation from another, they being deformed with paint of many colors... So the common cry and vogue of the Vulgar was, away with these Forts, away with These distinctions, we will have war with all the Indians ... we will spare none." The dispute between the Native Americans and the Virginians continued through the entire rebellion.
-----Because of the Virginians greed and ravenous mind-set, the Indians of course retaliated. As this quote from Document #4 affirms, "... a Party of those abused Sasquahanocks in Revenge of the Maryland businesse came suddainly down upon the weak Plantations at the head of Rappahanock and Potomaque and killed at one time 36 persons and then immediately (as thier Custome is) ran off into the woods." As this states, the Indians killed out of revenge. But the Virginians killed out of voracity. Although the author does not say so directly, he apparently assumes that the Indians ran off in a panic after committing their murders. Without speaking the Virginians language, killing out of revenge was all the Indians could really do. In a way, the Indians were mere bystanders, waiting and watching as the Virginians executed their friends and loved ones in fuming incursions. What were they to do? The Indians were never warned as to what was going to occur. The only warning they were given was the first strike of death.
----- As Bacon continued his invasions of attack on the Indians and tensions rose, Berkeley's correlation with the Natives was demised. As stated in Document #4, "Berkeley had rebuked [Bacon] at the time, mildly but firmly, reminding him that he was the governor of Virginia, and that attacking friendly Indians was just one way to produce what everyone wanted to avoid, namely, [in Berkeley's words] a Generall Combination of all Indians against us." (needs quotes and a conclusion)
Work Cited:
1.) A Young People's History of the United States, Howard Zinn and Rebecca Stefoff (Page 36)
2.) Title: Bacon's Rebellion
Source: The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Jul., 1900), pp. 1-10
Publisher(s): Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1914836
3.) Title: The History of Bacon’s and Ingram’s Rebellion, 1676
Source: 47 Documents (Document #6)
Author: Unknown
4.) Whether They be Friends or Foes, Michael J. Puglisi (Page 78)
5.) Title: True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, 1676 (excerpt)
Source: 47 Documents (Document #13)
Author(s): Royal Commissioners
6.) Title: A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, 1676 (excerpt)
Source: 47 Documents (Document #4)
Author(s): Royal Commissioners
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