1 / 29

Bacon’s Rebellion

Bacon’s Rebellion. The end of Virginian Independence. Early Events. 1672 Dutch attacks in the Chesapeake 1673 Two servant uprisings 1674 Bacon emigrates to Virginia 1675 Indian conflict begins on Potomac. 1670s Sources of Friction. Trade Laws mercantilism 2 shillings/hogshead

owena
Download Presentation

Bacon’s Rebellion

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Bacon’s Rebellion The end of Virginian Independence

  2. Early Events • 1672 Dutch attacks in the Chesapeake • 1673 Two servant uprisings • 1674 Bacon emigrates to Virginia • 1675 Indian conflict begins on Potomac

  3. 1670s Sources of Friction • Trade Laws • mercantilism • 2 shillings/hogshead • 1 penny/lb of tobacco • Lack of available lands • land grab in 1650s • shaky title to lands secured in 1650s.

  4. 1670s Sources of Friction Fall Line Line of Settlement

  5. 1670s Sources of Friction • Landless men • increasing number of servants gaining freedom • life expectancy increases • early release without “freedom dues” • who emigrates? • “the Synke to Drayne England of its Scum” • captured commonwealth soldiers • lower middle class.

  6. Emigrating servants

  7. 1670s Sources of Friction • Taxation • “increased every year in every jurisdiction” - June 1676 • assessing fees • taxes collected in cash - paid in tobacco 8 per 100/wt vs. 16 • Poll Tax - 250 lbs/year for each: • head of household, 16+ male children, male servants, slaves • 60 pounds tobacco per poll - for purchasing VA lands from proprietors • lands given back by Duke of York • no need for the tax.

  8. 1670s Sources of Friction • Taxation • Fort tax: for defense • useless in Piedmont vs. Tidewater regions • “were made of Mud & Dirt & soe of noe use” • useful only for contractor & absentee commander • Other Fees • secretaries, sheriff, clerk, coroner • Other Taxes • parish levy, county tax, militia fines, powder dues. • Total Cost: 25-50% of income to taxes.

  9. 1670s Sources of Friction • Perquisites of Office • Tax Exempt Status • Governor, members of the Council of State, Clergy • their sons, servants and slaves • High pay • salary, expense account; gifts; contracts; militia officers pay • (for Burgesses these would more than pay yearly taxes) • Comestibles • food and drink provided while on government business.

  10. 1670s Sources of Friction • Indians • Alliances from 1644 • Conflict • constant skirmishing along borders • Trade • Berkeley allies retain monopoly on Indian trade • anger over guns sold to Indians.

  11. 1670s Sources of Friction • Political representation • Long Assembly 1662-75 • no elections • 1670 Berkeley removes right to vote from landless.

  12. 1670s Sources of Friction • Explosion waiting to happen • only needs an acceptable leader

  13. Bacon’s Background • Family background, education • deported with wife to VA with £1800 • immediately connected to Gov. Berkeley • appointment to Council of State.

  14. Conflict begins • July 1675 Conflict on the Potomac • Doegs take some hogs belonging to Thomas Matthew in payment for goods Matthew got from them • Matthew pursues them and kills/beats several Doegs • The Doegs kill one of Matthew's servants • Colonel Mason and Captain Brent lead the Westmoreland militia across the Potomac, where Brent requests a parley, but kills one of the kings and ten of the Doeg Indians • Mason kills fourteen Susquehannahs, who had sought refuge with the Piscattaways to escape from invading Senecas • The Susquehannahs continue to retaliate by raiding the Virginians • Berkeley commissions Colonel John Washington and Major Isaac Allerton of Westmoreland to investigate and retaliate

  15. Conflict begins • September 26 • Allerton and Washington, with ~1000 VA and MD militia, siege Piscattaways' fort. • Murder the five chiefs seeking peace under flag of truce. • Indians kill ten sentinels to escape and break siege. • The Susquehannahs retaliate in the Rappahannock River area

  16. Conflict begins • January 1676 • Susquehanna Indians begin moving southward along Virginia border • April • Bacon joins Giles Bland & agrees to lead an army against all Indians

  17. Conflict begins • May 10 • Bacon leads an army to friendly Occaneechees holding captured Susquehannahs • kill the prisoners; the army turns on Occaneechees and takes their beaver pelts • May 26 • Berkeley declares Bacon a “rebel” • popular reaction forces reassessment - elections • HenricoCounty elects Bacon to House of Burgesses

  18. Berkeley’s Fears • King Philip’s War • fear of continent-wide Indian rebellion • desire to avoid conflict with friendly tribes • May 29 letter • June 1 • Berkeley sends wife & cash to England

  19. House of Burgesses • June 5-25 • Passes “Bacon’s Laws”

  20. June Events • June 6 • Bacon requests a commission to head army attacking Indians • June 7 • Berkeley captures Bacon • June 10 - Berkeley in charge • Berkeley pardons Bacon after his confession; restored to Council of State • declares war on enemy Indians; army by lot; paid by poll tax

  21. June Events • 11 June • Berkeley secretly writes out arrest warrant for Bacon • Berkeley requests militia to suppress riots from Bacon’s execution • 12 June • Bacon escapes • Berkeley • 17 June • word that Bacon returning at head of troops

  22. June 23 Showdown • Unable to flee, Berkeley forced to defend • Bacon arrives unexpectedly • 400 + foot • 120 horse (men of some means) • Gov. 50 men total - cannons unusable • Bacon demands commission • Gov refuses • Assembly wilts before soldiers • “We will have it, We will have it!” • Gov capitulates

  23. June 24 Laws • Bacon demands four laws • Gov and friends prohibited from public office • letters sent to King 1 June must be contradicted • captain of Adam & Eve must pay for damages and be tried for interfering with a Burgesses traveling to meet at Jamestown • defense bill must support actions of volunteer army

  24. Civil War • June 25 - Bacon leaves to avenge attacks by Indians • July • Berkeley declares Bacon’s commission void • Bacon returns to fight Berkeley • Berkeley flees to Eastern shore • 30 July - Bacon proclaims “Declaration of the People”

  25. Civil War • August begins using “Bacon’s Oath” • offers freedom to servants and slaves of loyalists • Bacon captures 45 friendly Pamunkey Indians • marches them to Jamestown • 2 Sept - loss of Rebecca signals doom to rebellion • Sept - Berkeley solidifies hold on eastern shore • sends troops to occupy Jamestown • 19 Sept Bacon burns Jamestown • w/o fleet cannot hold city

  26. Bacon’s occupation of Jamestown 19 Sept 1676

  27. Civil War • 26 Oct - Bacon dies from “blood flux” • at headquarters in Gloucester • Dec - last of Bacon’s troops surrender • Berkeley hangs 23 for “rebellion” William Berkeley

  28. Aftermath • Feb 20 - reformed House of Burgesses at Green Springs inviolates all “Bacon’s Laws” of June 1676 • Feb 1000 English troops arrive to suppress rebellion • Apr - Berkeley replaced as governor

  29. Aftermath • strict supervision by England • warfare opens new lands for settlement • whites of all classes unite against non-whites • race-based slavery accelerates

More Related