They Say: Bacon's Rebellion

Nathaniel Bacons was a simple colonial farmer who began a rebellion in Virginia that had a significant influence on the change in politics and economy in Jamestown shortly after the event. The problem began with fighting between the native Americans and the colonist. To solve the on going constant fighting between the settlers and the natives, Governor Barkley drew up a treaty that would separate the natives from the colonists and hopefully maintain peace. The treaty made it so there was an imaginary line drawn between the colonist land and the natives to prevent confrontation. When it comes to the topic of colonists vs. natives, most people only side that effects the natives, but Puglisi writes in his book, "The ensuing peace treaty between the colony and the natives virtually stripped the Powhatans and their independence, their lands, and their freedom, of movement. Necotowance, the surviving cheiftain, was forced to acknowledge the sovereignty of Crown and its right to confirm or appoint his successors"(97). Hardships of what the native Americans is reflected in this quote, and it gives a reader a view that usually isn't shown in general historic writing.

Nevertheless, peace between natives and colonists did not last long. In the American Promise, they explain how the treaty would have worked if the population hadn't of grown as it did. As indentured servants were freed and multiplied, the population grew and pushed the limits of the treaties. Frontier planters began to move into native territory, and the fighting between the colonists and the natives rose again.

Some may wonder how a simple colonial farmer came to lead such a huge rebellion. Puglisi describes in his book,"Although recently arrived in the colony, Bacon was kin to one of Virginia's leading families, possessed considerable wealth, had connections with Berkeley, and received an appointment to the Governor's Council at the age of twnenty-nine"(77). In the quote Puglisi shows logic on how Bacon became to power. This creates credibility for the author because of the in depth knowledge of the events in people of the Rebellion.

Bacon and his followers thought that is wasn't necessary for the government to maintain peace with the natives because he believed the Natives were enemies. In the American Promise it tells how Governor Barkley branded Bacon as a traitor because he wasn't willing side with Barkley on the view to maintain peace with the natives.Barkley called for a reelection hoping that most of the burgesses would take his side but to his "surprise the elections backfired" as referred in the American Promise, and Bacon and some of his supporters were found in office. While Bacon was in office, the legislative past a series of laws called "Bacons laws", which included settlers having a voice in taxes, freemen voting, and limits were placed on how offices there could be. The Rebellion erupted into a war between the supporters of Barkley and Bacon's allies.

When Bacon unexpectedly died of an unknown disease, Barkley regained control of the rebels and had the rest of Bacon's allies killed. As a result the tensions between the large farmers and the small farmers lessoned. In conclusion, Bacon's Rebellion's influence on the history of Jamestown opened up doors that changed economy for hundreds of years.