In 1676 an uprising in Virginia, called Bacon’s Rebellion, occurred. The leader of the rebellion, Nathaniel Bacon, along with a thousand Virginians broke out of control. Nathaniel Bacon, an English man, was sent to Virginia to become a better leader and a leader is what he became. Virginia’s Governor, William Berkeley, was a harsh governor towards the land owners. Berkeley monopolized the Indian’s fur trade and refused to retaliate after multiple Indian attacks on frontier settlements. His friendly policy toward the Indians was a main cause for Bacon’s Rebellion.
Berkeley’s attempt to find a compromise between the landowners and the Indians did not please the rebels. He wanted to preserve the friendship and loyalty of the Indians, but in doing so he angered the landowners. Berkeley was not opposed to fighting the “bad” Indians, but he feared that they would all turn against him and cause a war. In response, Bacon took it upon himself to lead his followers to fight the “enemy.” They fell murderously on the Indians and blood was shed. Berkeley declared Bacon a rebel and charged him with treason. In an act against Berkeley’s declaration on Bacon, he and his followers chased Berkeley all the way to Jamestown and “put …show more content…
After Bacon’s death the rebellion fell almost immediately. Governor Berkeley rose to power again and searched for all of the rebels that partook in this rebellion. Berkeley finished the rebellion with brutal cruelty; he hung more than twenty of Bacon’s followers. Berkeley was later removed from power and forced back to England. The king of England, Charles II, thought of Berkeley as an “old fool who had put to death more people in that naked country.” Bacon had ignited and recognized the unhappiness and disappointment in the former servants and the frontiersman. Although the rebellion had now ended, the tension between the people stayed the
Berkeley’s attempt to find a compromise between the landowners and the Indians did not please the rebels. He wanted to preserve the friendship and loyalty of the Indians, but in doing so he angered the landowners. Berkeley was not opposed to fighting the “bad” Indians, but he feared that they would all turn against him and cause a war. In response, Bacon took it upon himself to lead his followers to fight the “enemy.” They fell murderously on the Indians and blood was shed. Berkeley declared Bacon a rebel and charged him with treason. In an act against Berkeley’s declaration on Bacon, he and his followers chased Berkeley all the way to Jamestown and “put …show more content…
After Bacon’s death the rebellion fell almost immediately. Governor Berkeley rose to power again and searched for all of the rebels that partook in this rebellion. Berkeley finished the rebellion with brutal cruelty; he hung more than twenty of Bacon’s followers. Berkeley was later removed from power and forced back to England. The king of England, Charles II, thought of Berkeley as an “old fool who had put to death more people in that naked country.” Bacon had ignited and recognized the unhappiness and disappointment in the former servants and the frontiersman. Although the rebellion had now ended, the tension between the people stayed the