Causes and Effects: Bacon’s Rebellion 1675
Cause 1: Group of Indians raid Thomas Matthews plantation
(The raids destroy crops and homes)
Cause 2: Indians create raids because of unfair trade between the English
and their tribes.
Cause 3: The English did not view the Natives as humans.
The English believed they were superior to the Natives. Once that the
English knew how to farm and hunt they no longer needed the support of the
Natives. They believed that the Natives should leave their lands and hand
them over to the English.
Cause 4: The Natives hated the English for their constant lies and unfair
trade agreements.
Cause 5. One colonist who was fed up with the Natives was Nathaniel
Bacon. Bacon spoke out the Natives destroying English lands.
Cause 6: Bacon goes to Governor Berkeley to voice his complaints.
Cause 7: Instead of immediately helping Bacon and his friends the Governor
told Bacon that would look into the situation and try to work out a
compromise.
Cause 8: Bacon was unhappy with Governor Berkeley’s response and
continued to press him for results.
Cause 9: Governor Berkeley decides that he is going to create a defensive
zone around Virginia to keep all the bad Indians out. (Sounds like a good
idea)
Cause 10: To pay for protection of the land the Governor decides he is going
to increase taxes on the poor. The poor make up Bacon and his firiends.
Cause 11. Extremely upset, Bacon decides he is going to get support for
change. Bacon dislikes Berkeley and voices for change.
Cause 12: Taking matters into his own hands Bacon starts wars against the
Natives.
Causes 13: Finally members of the House of Burgesses set in and beg Bacon
to stop the attacks. In addition they decide to vote him in as a member of the
House of Burgesses.
Cause 14: In June 1676 a heated debate broke out about how the Indians
should be handled and Bacon stormed out of the meeting. He organized a
group to surround the captial building. Forcing the governor to sign an order
against the Indians, Bacon takes over Jamestown making him the leader of
the colony.
Cause 15. Bacon creates the Declaration of the People of Virginia and
decides he is going to burn Jamestown to the ground.
Bacon dies.
Effects
Effects 1:
Poor rebeled for more rights. First time the English fought against each
other.
Effect 2: First document created to demand the poor has more rights.
Effect: After the king of England watched this crazy series of events occur
he decided that the Governor should have more power.
Effect 4: All citizens should have the right to Bear arms.
Effect 5: The English decided to end the idea of indentured servants. They
decided they wanted to strip people from their rights and at the same time
have free labor. Thus the idea of SLAVERY is born.