Rough Draft #2

During Bacon’s Rebellion, multiple colonists believed that the Natives were at fault for the cause of the economy. Others believed that the Natives had no part of the down fall of the economy and they lived peacefully without any problems. However, Nathaniel Bacon viewed the Natives as enemies which brought upon the rebellion.

Nathaniel Bacon saw the Natives as the common enemy and wanted all Natives banned from Virginia. Since Bacon viewed the Natives as an enemy, he went against the government and formed a group of people living in the colony to rebel towards the Natives. With Bacon having power, he decided to ban the Natives from the colony. He believed that if all of the Natives were out of the territory, then all of the colonists will live better and all of the situations will be fixed. Bacon “found the Indians in all places unwilling to assist us against the common enemy [the Susquehannocks], they[. . .] were forced to go quite out of our way southward”(Document#21). With the Natives sent away, Bacon felt like he dominated the Natives and the colonists. He felt as if he has gained so much power that slowly he could change every single Virginian Colonists to go with his plan and have loyal followers behind him. The main reason for Bacon sending the Natives away from the colony in Virginia is because he wanted to take all of their land and use it for himself. He also wanted all Natives demolished in Virginia. Clearly, Bacon viewed the Natives as an object that he could toss around like a toy. From Bacon’s actions, more damage was done to the colony than solving the problems.


With power increasing in Bacon’s name, he believed that he could have his way and make the colonists believe his words. For three months, Bacon had a war with the Natives. However, Bacon saw how unpleased they were with Bacon fighting with the Natives only, so Bacon gave his followers a negotiation . In order to have people back him up, he promised the poor colonists that they will as well rebel towards the rich. Everyone except Bacon believed that the rich was the main reason for the economy. The rich was much more privileged and did not have to live hard during the down fall of the economy. Bacon “probably cared more about fighting Indians than about helping the poor”(Zinn). His followers slowly became aware with Bacon and his actions towards the Natives, so Bacon manipulated his followers into thinking the Natives were the main source for the economy’s down fall and “Bacon’s extra-legal army bent on revenge [by] attack[ing] the peaceful [innocent] Indian Village”(Puglisi). Bacon and his followers burned down houses, and attacked innocent Natives that were living in the colony. Bacon’s manipulative mind corrupted his followers into believing that the Natives did take part of the reason for the economy and the reason why the less privileged colonists were living so hard and poor. With Bacon’s manipulative, malevolent behaviors, governor William Berkeley took this matter into his own hands.


Berkeley believed that he could trick Bacon with a new election of Burgesses. What Berkeley did not know is that Bacon’s name has became very popular and has gained much power within the colony. Bacon has also gained many loyal followers that shall always be by Bacon’s side. The elections blew up at Berkeley and “was replaced by local leaders including Bacon”(92). With Bacon, who has several followers, he now also has the power of the legislation. His malevolent feelings towards the Natives started to form new laws within the colony. Since Bacon has the power, he thought he might as well use it to get what he wants. Once again, Bacon still had prejudice views towards the Natives and wanted all of the Natives gone from Virginia. Bacon strongly believed that the Natives were the main reason for the economy and anything bad that was happening to the colony. With all his power, “Bacon’s forces fought the Indians sacked the grandees’ plantations, and attacked Jamestown”(92). Bacon’s actions was meaningless, and destructive. Bacons actions only led to more problems. None of his actions were made to help change the living environment in the colony. The only reason why the rebellion has been going on for so long is because Bacon keeps trying to manipulate the Natives, and make the Natives do something worth being banned for life out of Virginia.

In the middle of the rebellion, Bacon unexpectedly died. “ The rebellion didn’t last long after that”(Zinn). The colonists did not know what to do or where to go after Bacon’s death. Since they no longer had Bacons input on situations with in the colony, the colonists just stopped rebelling. However, the colonists still believed that the Natives needed to live away from the colony. “The Indians had their land seized by white frontiersmen”(Zinn). They still treated the Natives as a problem. Even after Bacon’s death, the colonist’s feelings towards the Natives was not at great terms. We can clearly see and state that Bacon has truly impacted the views of the colonists.