Bacon’s Rebellion
1676
An Important Turning Point
Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion: 1676
Nathaniel
Bacon
Governor
William Berkeley
Who was Nathaniel Bacon? Why did he rebel? How did his
rebellion change Virginia (& America) FOREVER?
Who was Nathaniel Bacon?
• Wealthy & educated
• Goal →to establish
tobacco plantation
• Forced to settle in the
backwoods Piedmont
region → “good” land in
the Tidewater region was
already taken!
Why did he rebel?
• Bacon became leader of
Piedmont planters (many
were poor ex-indentures
servants)
• Piedmont plantations
often attacked by Indians
• Bacon demanded Virginia
Governor Berkeley to
protect the Piedmont from
Indian attacks → Governor
refuses!
Bacon confronts the
governor!
How does this rebellion change
Virginia?
• For almost 2 years,
Bacon & his followers
attack BOTH Indians &
Virginia colonial militia
• Jamestown set on fire!
• Conclusion = it is
dangerous to have a
large population of poor,
ex-indentured servants!
Virginia increasingly turns to
African workers to fill their
labor needs.