"They Say" Bacons Rebellion #2

Bacon’s Rebellion was an event that changed the opinions of many about the Native race and the Virginia government. Nathaniel Bacon wanted permission to raid the Natives because he wanted them out of the way and believed they were a threat to his plans for power. He was turned down by William Berkeley who was a lead member of the government, and Berkeley wanted to keep peace with the Natives. The settlers had problems with the Natives. The settlers wanted the politicians and the colonies leaders to fight the Natives, but they wouldn't fight. The frontiersmen and the settlers felt that the colonial government had let them down. "They were angry, and they weren't the only ones (found on pg#36 "Howard Zinn" document)." "In 1667 these unhappy Virginians found a leader in Nathaniel Bacon (also on pg#36 of Zinn's document)." Bacon accused Berkeley and the government of wrong doing, including not protecting the western farmers from the Indians, and unfair taxes. The common people elected Bacon to be in the colonial government, which was called the House of Burgesses, because "the common people of Virginia felt that he was on their side"(also on pg. #36 of Zinn's document).

There was a lot of oppression towards the lower classes of people in Virginia.“Bacon’s Rebellion brought together groups from the lower classes.” White frontiersmen started the uprising because they were angry about the way the colony was being run. "Then white servants and black slaves joined the rebellion (Zinn document pg.#35)." They were mainly angry because the government set a huge economical gap between the rich and the poor and they wanted to share the wealth of the rich. Bacon was ready to send his armed forces to fight the Indians, outside of government control. Bacon's rebellion was influenced by Nathaniel Bacon's eagerness to wipe out the Natives for the angry Vrginians, for power, and for wealth. This soon alarmed Berekely. "Berkeley called Bacon a rebel and had him captured ( on pg.#36 of Zinn document." As soon as Bacon was released he gathered his militia and raided the Indians anyway. The rebellion was then "under way."

"Bacon gave his reasons for the rebellion in a paper called the Declaration of the People (pg. #38 of Zinn document." It contained the info on the frontiermen's hatred of the Natives and the common people's anger toward the rich. A few months after that, Bacon got very sick and died. "The rebellion didn't last long after that ( pg. #38 of Zinn's document)."