Nathaniel Bacon's Rebellion: primary sources and colonial conflict in Virginia

Nathaniel Bacon

Bacon's Rebellion:

An Examination of a Primary Source

The beginnings of our great country were not without bloodshed or sacrifice. Many a great hero fought in the War for Independence, for instance, and this is known to all, but there were other people who fought much smaller social, political and economic battles who must also be remembered. Nathaniel Bacon was certainly one of these people, and this paper will spend time introducing the reader to Bacon and his beliefs, as well as examining his own writing, found in the "Proclamations of Nathaniel Bacon" pamphlet in order to see what the main complaints that Bacon presented against the government of Virginia were, as well as find to what end Bacon's rebellion helped change relationships between the rich and poor; Blacks, Native Americans, and Whites; and free and enslaved early Americans.

Who was Nathaniel Bacon?

Nathaniel Bacon was a wealthy, well-educated Virginia colonialist. He was born a patriot, in England, and came to America in the early 1670's with a considerable fortune. Bacon was a lawyer by profession so he was very eloquent and began to have considerable influence over the inhabitants of his new town from the start. He became a member of the Gloucester council shortly after his arrival in the New World, and began to publicly and strongly oppose the views of Governor Berkeley, the current governor at the time who was a staunch loyalist (or British patriot). Bacon did this due to the fact that he saw discontent in that which regarded taxation and relations with Native Americans, and aimed to do his best to help the people, not the Crown or those who served it. It was due to these events that Bacon eventually led the people in a full rebellion.

What History Writes

One can not discuss Bacon's writings of what, in his opinion, caused him to lead the rebellion without putting them into a larger historical context. For this reason, it is important to examine what other sources state about Bacon's Rebellion prior to examining the man's own account. The reason the rebellion started, history claims, is due to high taxes, low prices for tobacco and anger towards Governor Berkeley for his corrupt nature (i.e. he favoured those close to him and refused to defend the frontier against Native American attacks). Bacon thus organized two fights against the tribes to at least quell the situations but was unsuccessful without any help from the Governor. Eventually, Bacon decided to take up the seat as Governor himself, but was arrested for his actions. Once released, however, Bacon and his supporters marched to Berkeley and were able to pressure him into obtaining a commission for continuing the campaign against Native Americans and to protect the inhabitants of the colony.

What Bacon Writes

According to Bacon's own account, as mentioned above, which is a piece deserving of close examination, the facts were both the same and a bit different in the case of this particular rebellion. In that which regards the reasons for the rebellion, for instance, Bacon writes that the main causes for it having occurred were the incredible injustices and the lack of economic rights for the entire population. Bacon writes the his rebellion was based on these injustices, which included, as stated above, high taxation but lack of economic and financial means for the population not aligned with Governor Berkeley who, furthermore, was feeling threatened by the Native American Attacks. However, what is different is that in Bacon's writing this 'corruption' clause is stressed above all others, and he underlines time and again just how unjust the governor is. In the excerpt below, for instance, taken from the pamphlet this is very much evident:

"…let us observe the sudden Rise of their Estates composed with the Quality in wch they first entered this Countrv Or the Reputation they have held here amongst wise and discerning men, […]

And lett us see wither their extractions and Education have not bin vile, And by what pretence of learning and vertue they could soe soon into Imployments of so great Trust and consequence, let us consider their sudden advance-ment and let us also consider wither any Pu'blick work for or safety and defence or for the Advancemt and propogation of Trade, liberall Arts or sciences is here Extant in any [way] ada-quate to or vast chardg, […]