Vince Coppola

10/12/07

Bacon's Rebellion and Social Injustices

In the comic above, a poor man is confronting “Robin Hood and his Merry Men” who are laughing at the fact that they should be distributing what they’ve stolen back to the poor people in society. This situation relates very closely to what was happening in the economical and political realm of the colonies in the 17^th century: the “elite” in society were living happily on the benefits that should have been used to help the less fortunate in society. In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion against the governor of Virginia and all those who stood by him to thrust the injustices of colonial social classes into the open for all free men to repeal; and despite the fact that many people believe that politics and the economy were the major contributing factors to Bacon's Rebellion, it was actually conflicts among the social classes in the Chesapeake region during the 17^th century that played the major role.

Initially, the lower (or poorer) classes were deprived of many of the rights that were only distributed to the upper class citizens, including the right to be protected by the government. This is attributed to the elite themselves for hogging control of the government and only electing their own people into office. They did this so they could maintain their high level of power and control over the society and only protect and benefit themselves. There were also many accounts of favoritism issued by the Governor Berkeley himself to his most favorite group of tidewater gentry.

Undoubtedly, the frontiersmen suffered from many ill side effects as a result of being left out of the governors little circle of favorites. These awful effects included small estates, unfertile soil, and constant Indian raids due to their position on the frontier. It was their hate for the Indians that fueled much of the rebellion's motivation. In Bacon's declaration of his rebellion in 1676 he wrote, "For having protected, favored, and emboldened the Indians against his Majesty's loyal subjects, never contriving, requiring, or appointing any due or proper means of satisfaction for their many invasions, robberies, and murders committed upon us" (historymatters.gmu.edu). The Governor's negligence to protect the lower classes of society was not easily overlooked. And because there was this defined lack of protection, the colonists on the frontier were in an ongoing battle with the Indians.

Meanwhile, Nathanial Bacon was a young man living on a large estate in Virginia. Contrary to popular belief, Bacon was actually a man full of hunger for power. It was this hunger mixed with his raging hate for the Indians that made him the perfect candidate to lead the colonists against the Natives and against the Governor.

Susan McCulley, a noted author concerning Bacon's Rebellion, commented on the degree to which the colonists hated the Indians, "The situation became critical when, in a retaliatory strike by the colonists, they attacked the wrong Indians, the Susquehanaugs, which caused large scale Indian raids to begin" (nps.gov). They led many raids against the Indian tribes along the frontier in spite of both the Indians themselves and Governor Berkeley. In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon led his band of followers straight to the capital and pressed the governor to clear the frontier of all Indian tribes. Some may view this event as rebellious, but it was actually quite patriotic. Despite this, the governor still refused to obey Bacon's orders even when he was threatened with death. Immediately following, Bacon formed his infamous "Declaration of the People" on July 30, 1676.

Bacon's famous declaration made points against both the local Indians and against Governor Berkeley (historymatters.gmu.edu):

For having, when the army of English was just upon the track of those Indians, who now in all places burn, spoil, murder and when we might with ease have destroyed them who then were in open hostility, for then having expressly countermanded and sent back our army by passing his word for the peaceable demeanor of the said Indians, who immediately prosecuted their evil intentions, committing horrid murders and robberies in all places, being protected by the said engagement and word past of him the said Sir William Berkeley, having ruined and laid desolate a great part of his Majesty's country, and have now drawn themselves into such obscure and remote places and are by their success so emboldened and confirmed by their confederacy so strengthened that the cries of blood are in all places, and the terror and consternation of the people so great, are now become not only difficult but a very formidable enemy who might at first with ease have been destroyed.

Subsequently, large scale raids were commenced by Bacon against all types of Indians, whether peaceful or not. Most authors will try to frame the events of the raids as against the Indians, but the truth is that Bacon's militia also attacked the farms of the upper class citizens, "Bacon and his band pillaged and ransacked tidewater plantations" (caho-test.cc.columbia.edu).

In the long run, the rebellion was powerful while it lasted, but it ended with Bacon's death of dysentery in October of 1676. Because the leader was now gone, his followers soon disbanded. Any followers who were left remaining found themselves under heavy persecution by the governor. The execution of the rebels lasted for some months until one thousand English soldiers arrived from England to suppress all of the calamity caused by the rebellion and its aftermath.

Despite the short life of the rebellion, it did of course have some sort of impact on the Virginian society. In the months following the rebellion, the planter elite still maintained social superiority although they now recognized the threat that the poorer citizens, indentured servants, and slaves posed against them. Because of this, an army was soon formed to expand the frontier and free it from all Indians. The results of all of this new land brought satisfaction to the poorer settlers because they no longer suffered from Indian attacks and now had more land to harvest.

If I were to take the self-interests of the government during Bacon's rebellion and compare them to a point in my life, I would go back to a time during my earlier teenage years when everything was unfair. Because the disproportional distribution of land and money to the lower class citizens relates so well to teenage years, I can remember countless times when I felt like parents, teachers and other authorities were only worrying about themselves and how much they could benefit from things that actually negatively affected me.

One time, a middle school teacher of mine only called on girls in the classroom. Despite the fact that there were many intellectual males in the room, time and time again the teacher only called on females exclusively. Although my experience doesn't pertain to injustices of social classes, it is still a socio-ethical problem that is proven unjust by the fact that all people are equal.

Consequently, I chose to confront my opposition in the same manner that Bacon did. I told my teacher that there were many male hands being raised and unless they were called on in equal proportion to the girls, I would take the problem to the principle. The incident was immediately solved because the teacher was unaware of his favoritism and apologized kindly and started calling on both genders.

Although my situation called for less action than Bacon's Rebellion did, it still demonstrated the necessity for a bold confrontation in times of injustice and moral infrequencies. Looking past the fact that Bacon's Rebellion only lasted a very short time, it still brought a great notice to the rifts in colonial America's social classes. It exposed a flaw that helped to make our country form its wonderful foundation of equality that we enjoy today.

This entry was posted by vincentcoppola, on Wednesday, December 12, 2007. You can leave your response.