US History
Learning Target: I can determine how Bacon's
Rebellion informs us about colonial slavery
Directions: Read the following passage; answer the comprehension questions at the bottom.
Bacon's Rebellion was probably one of the most confusing yet interesting chapters in Jamestown's history.
For many years, historians considered the Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676 to be the first stirring of revolutionary
feelings in America, which caused the American Revolution almost exactly one hundred years later. However,
in the past few decades, based on findings from a more distant viewpoint, historians have come to
understand Bacon's Rebellion as a power struggle between two stubborn, selfish leaders rather than a
glorious fight against tyranny.
The central figures in Bacon's Rebellion were opposites. Governor Sir William Berkeley, seventy years old
when the crisis began, was a veteran of the English Civil Wars, a frontier Indian fighter, a King's favorite in his
first term as Governor in the 1640's, and a playwright and scholar. His name and reputation as Governor of
Virginia were well respected. Berkeley's enemy, young Nathaniel Bacon, Jr., was actually Berkeley's cousin by
marriage. Bacon was a troublemaker whose father sent him to Virginia in the hope that he would mature.
Bacon was intelligent and eloquent. Upon Bacon's arrival, Berkeley treated his young cousin with respect and
friendship, giving him both a piece of land, and position in government.
1. Where did Bacon’s rebellion take place?
2. Who struggled for power during Bacon’s rebellion?
3. How were Bacon and Berkley related?
4. How did Berkley treat Bacon when he arrived in Virginia?
Bacon's Rebellion
"[We must defend ourselves] against all Indians in generall, for that they were
all Enemies." This was the unequivocal view of Nathaniel Bacon, a young,
wealthy Englishman who had recently settled in the backcountry of Virginia.
The opinion that all Indians were enemies was also shared by a many other
Virginians, especially those who lived in the interior. It was not the view,
however, of the governor of the colony, William Berkeley.
Berkeley was not opposed to fighting Indians who were considered enemies,
but attacking friendly Indians, he thought, could lead to what everyone wanted
to avoid: a war with "all the Indians against us." Berkeley also didn't trust
Bacon's intentions, believing that the upstart's true aim was to stir up trouble
among settlers, who were already discontent with the colony's government.
Bacon attracted a large following who, like him, wanted to kill or drive out
every Indian in Virginia. In 1675, when Berkeley denied Bacon a commission
(the authority to lead soldiers), Bacon took it upon himself to lead his followers
in a crusade against the "enemy." They marched to a fort held by a friendly
tribe, the Occaneechees, and convinced them to capture warriors from an
unfriendly tribe. The Occaneechees returned with captives. Bacon's men killed
the captives They then turned to their "allies" and opened fire.
Berkeley declared Bacon a rebel and charged him with treason. Just to be safe,
the next time Bacon returned to Jamestown, he brought along fifty armed men.
Bacon was still arrested, but Berkeley pardoned him instead of sentencing him
to death, the usual punishment for treason.
Still without the commission he felt he deserved, Bacon returned to Jamestown
later the same month, but this time accompanied by five hundred men.
Berkeley was forced to give Bacon the commision, only to later declare that it
was void. Bacon, in the meantime, had continued his fight against Indians.
When he learned of the Govenor's declaration, he headed back to Jamestown.
The governor immediately fled, along with a few of his supporters, to
Virginia's eastern shore.
Each leader tried to muster support. Each promised freedom to slaves and
servants who would join their cause. But Bacon's following was much greater
than Berkeley's. In September of 1676, Bacon and his men set Jamestown on
fire.
The rebellion ended after British authorities sent a royal force to assist in
quelling the uprising and arresting scores of committed rebels, white and black.
When Bacon suddenly died in October, probably of dysentery, Bacon's
Rebellion fizzled out.
Mini-Discussion
What did the events of Bacon’s Rebellion say about who had greater or lesser rights and power in colonial
America?
Exit Ticket
What does Bacon’ Rebellion tell us about colonial slavery?
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0
Insufficient
Assertion
Context
Does not
address the
question, does
not reference
the text, or is
totally
inaccurate.
Evidence


Assertion is invalid
Misunderstanding of the
text or question.
Not included
Some text-based evidence to
support assertion. Some…
 Irrelevant or insufficient
 Too general or simple
 Assumed evidence
An attempt to explain the evidence
 Implausible
 May not link evidence to
the assertion
Interpretation
Grammar
and Spelling
1
Developing
Unintelligible or
indecipherable
Grammar and spelling minimally
hinder readability.
2
Proficient
3
Advanced
Valid inference and/or
assertion based on the text and
question.
Demonstrates advanced
thinking.
Attempts to include
background information to
introduce evidence
Sufficient, relevant textual
evidence to develop assertion
Includes relevant
background information
to introduce evidence
N/A
Valid interpretation of the
evidence that explains the
evidence and links evidence to
the assertion
Exemplary interpretation
of the evidence;
demonstrates advanced
thinking
Overwhelmingly correct use of
grammar and spelling allow
for smooth reading.
Perfectly correct use of
grammar and spelling.
KEY
Directions: Read the following passage; answer the comprehension questions at the bottom.
Bacon's Rebellion was probably one of the most confusing yet interesting chapters in Jamestown's history.
For many years, historians considered the Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676 to be the first stirring of revolutionary
feelings in America, which caused the American Revolution almost exactly one hundred years later. However,
in the past few decades, based on findings from a more distant viewpoint, historians have come to
understand Bacon's Rebellion as a power struggle between two stubborn, selfish leaders rather than a
glorious fight against tyranny.
The central figures in Bacon's Rebellion were opposites. Governor Sir William Berkeley, seventy years old
when the crisis began, was a veteran of the English Civil Wars, a frontier Indian fighter, a King's favorite in his
first term as Governor in the 1640's, and a playwright and scholar. His name and reputation as Governor of
Virginia were well respected. Berkeley's enemy, young Nathaniel Bacon, Jr., was actually Berkeley's cousin by
marriage. Bacon was a troublemaker whose father sent him to Virginia in the hope that he would mature.
Bacon was intelligent and eloquent. Upon Bacon's arrival, Berkeley treated his young cousin with respect and
friendship, giving him both a piece of land, and position in government.
1. Where did Bacon’s rebellion take place?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Who struggled for power during Bacon’s rebellion?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. How were Bacon and Berkley related?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. How did Berkley treat Bacon when he arrived in Virginia?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Bacon's Rebellion
Mini-Discussion
What did the events of Bacon’s Rebellion say about who had greater or lesser rights and power in colonial
America?
Exit Ticket 1.23
How the events of Bacon's Rebellion reflected who had greater or lesser rights and
power in colonial America.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
0
Insufficient
Assertion
Context
Does not
address the
question, does
not reference
the text, or is
totally
inaccurate.
Evidence


Assertion is invalid
Misunderstanding of the
text or question.
Not included
Some text-based evidence to
support assertion. Some…
 Irrelevant or insufficient
 Too general or simple
 Assumed evidence
An attempt to explain the evidence
 Implausible
 May not link evidence to
the assertion
Interpretation
Grammar
and Spelling
1
Developing
Unintelligible or
indecipherable
Grammar and spelling minimally
hinder readability.
2
Proficient
3
Advanced
Valid inference and/or
assertion based on the text and
question.
Demonstrates advanced
thinking.
Attempts to include
background information to
introduce evidence
Sufficient, relevant textual
evidence to develop assertion
Includes relevant
background information
to introduce evidence
N/A
Valid interpretation of the
evidence that explains the
evidence and links evidence to
the assertion
Exemplary interpretation
of the evidence;
demonstrates advanced
thinking
Overwhelmingly correct use of
grammar and spelling allow
for smooth reading.
Perfectly correct use of
grammar and spelling.