Chapter 3: Persons of Mean and Vile Condition

1. Chapter 3: Persons of Mean and Vile Condition Paul Karmiryan Ch S 245 OL- 14004

2. Bacon’s Rebellion • Nathaniel Bacon began Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676 over how to deal with the Indians who were close by the western frontier. • Whites attempted to expand westward, but faced the dilemma of fighting Indians • Governor William Berkeley had a more peaceful approach • Violence broke on the frontier with the Indians

3. Bacon’s “Declaration of the People” • Described the resentment towards the rich • Demanded for more protection against Indians on the Western frontier. • Bacon dies of illness, and the rebellion ceases to continue • New leader, Thomas Grantham attempts to restore order by promising to pardon everyone and disarm rebel forces as the captain of the ship

4. Against the Governor • Berkeley argued: “... we cannot but resent, that forty thousand people should be impoverish'd to enrich little more than forty Merchants…” • Many Virginians supported the rebellion against the governor • Other members of Government Counsel (I.e. Richard Lee) also supported the rebellion • Servants of the “miserably poor white underclass” also joined Bacon’s rebellion

5. Servants and Immigrants • Poor people coming to America was seen as a commodity of a profit for merchants • The biggest profit to be made was by shipping slaves, according to Abbot Smith • Immigrants must agree to work for their “master” for 5-7 years upon emigration • Trip to America lasted 8-12 weeks under inhuman conditions on ships.

6. Life as a Servant • Beatings were common • Women servants were often raped • 4 out of 5 servants died of disease • Laws existed, but were not enforced • Rebellion was attempted, but was impractical because of their lack of power • Servants could not marry without permission • Often not allowed because child bearing would interrupt a women servants ability to serve as a servant

7. A Servant’s Way Out? • Many servants ran away: it was easier than rebellion • Some ran away with boat, but they were often captured and beaten • A number of servants went on strike demanding decent food, but were whipped and the striking stopped • US Constitutions held that fugitive servants could not simply hop through states for freedom • Maryland’s population consisted of 10% white servants • Rare case of free servants became wealthy landowners • Abbot Smith argues that they were not given equal opportunity even after they were freed. He states that, “about one in ten was a sound and solid individual” • The other 80% were “shifted, hopeless individuals”

8. The Colonies Grow • Many English settlers and European immigrants • Black slaves were pouring in • Shipping and trading expanded overseas • Upper class gains the most political power and wealth from the expansion • Percentage of poor white males doubled from 14% to 29% • The poor struggled to stay • alive • Unemployment was at a high

9. Severe Food Shortage • High prices of food in 1713 led many poor on the streets hungry • 200 people riot on the Boston Common • Attacked trade ships and warehouses looking for food • Wealthy merchants like Andrew Belcher had their ships attacked • Many criticized the rich of having oppressed and cheated the poor

10. England in War • During the 1730’s, England was fighting a series of wars under Queen Anne’s and King George’s rule • This allowed for merchants to get rich • Taxes, unemployment and poverty were at a high • Seamen rioted in 1747 • Indians servants were an obstacle while Black slaves were submissive and easy to control • Dangers of slave revolts were high

11. The Threat • Many feared that the slaves, Indian servants, and poor would unite and revolt • Some doubted this threat as communication was difficult • In the North, Blacks and Indians could not meet in large numbers • This fear caused consideration of war against Indians • This gave rise to a new policy, which later turned into a war

12. The New Policy • Laws were passed prohibiting Black slaves in Indian territory because of the fear of revolution • This fear was caused by the unity Bacon’s Rebellion instilled upon the people • Treaties were made with Indian tribes • Indian fugitive servants were freed in exchange • Still, the government feared revolution from the Black slaves • Blacks were used in the Cherokee War in order to control for this

13. The Middle Class Fights Back • The middle class fought against the corruption of the wealthy • The New Yorker CadwalladerGolden article attacked wealthy tax dodgers • A rich man named James Otis attacks the middle class by stating it is the rich who owns Boston • In the Pennsylvania Journal it was stated in 1756 that, “It was ... a middle-class society governed for the most part by its upper classes."

14. References • Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States. 2005. Print.