BACON’S REBELLION
The American Colonies
Virginia, 1675
ORIGINAL 13 COLONIES
Picture It…
• You are an Indentured Servant in Colonial America
• Tobacco has become the cash crop savior of the colony
• Everyone is trying to make $$$ planting it
• It is EVERYWHERE!!!
BUT…• Tobacco is incredibly harsh on the land
• The Colonial Economy & Labor Force has become one-dimensional
• Education is lacking
• Cities aren’t developing
• Indentured Servants are frustrated– high taxes– no more land left for them
• What if something goes wrong???
PRECURSORS TO BACON’S REBELLION
• 1. One crop economy
• 2. Indentured Servitude
• 3. Soil Dying
Something Does!!!
• As the market is flooded with tobacco, the price of tobacco plummets– Farmers not making much money– Go into debt– Still have heavy taxes
• As tobacco is harsh on the land, the soil needs time to replenish
What To Do???
• Colonists thought if they could just get more land…– Could grow more tobacco– Sell more– Make more money!!!
• But there is no more land…for colonists
• Who has the rest???
Native Americans • Treaties have been signed• Borders have been drawn
• So What!!!!!!!!!!
• Discontent boils over…• Farmers begin to invade Powhatan Lands
to the West• Group of Susquehannocks are killed• Retaliation comes
Cry for War!!
• VA Governor William Berkeley refuses to authorize a war
• Farmers are furious at Gov’t
• In steps…
• Nathaniel Bacon
• Led poor farmers, indentured servants, even slaves on a rampage
N. BACON
CAUSES OF BACON’S REBELLION
• 1. Tobacco Price Fall
• 2. Lack of Available Land
• 3. High Taxes
• 4. No Gov’t Help
Bacon’s Rebellion
• Makes war on Native Tribes for their Lands
• Begins looting wealthy white plantations as well
• Jamestown is burned
Bacon Organizing His Men
Jamestown Burned
EFFECTSOF BACON’S REBELLION
• 1. Farmers Start War
• 2. Invasion of Native American Lands
• 3. Attack Wealthy Planters
But Then…
• Bacon dies suddenly
• Rebellion fades out
• HOUSE OF BURGESSES – VA Assembly votes to lower taxes and open up some land
THE REALIZATION
• Indentured Servant Labor isn’t Working!!!– They become free and want things– Like land, freedoms, rights, money
• American Colonies Need a New Source of Labor
• One that won’t give them these problems
OUTCOMEOF BACON’S REBELLION
• 1. Some Gov’t Help– Lower Taxes
• 2. SLAVERY EXPANDS IN THE COLONIES!!!
– Indentured Servitude will not work
What was Bacon’s Rebellion?
• Farmers expressing discontent, making war on Native Americans to get more land
What is the SIGNIFICANCE of Bacon’s Rebellion?
• The Significance of Bacon’s Rebellion is that African Slavery was expanded in the American Colonies
• (Cause and Effect!!!)• (Changes over Time!!!)