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. 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. 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 fought with the Natives. However, Bacon made a promise to the poor colonists. In order to have people back Bacon up, he promised the poor colonists that they will as well rebel towards the rich. Bacon “probably cared more about fighting Indians than about helping the poor”(Zinn). His followers became unpleased with Bacon and his actions only towards the Natives, so Bacon manipulated his followers into thinking the Natives are the main source for the economy 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. 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. The elections blew up in Berkeley’s face, and “was replaced by local leaders including Bacon”(92). With Bacon, who has several followers, he now also has the power of the legislation. As manipulative and his malevolent feelings towards the Natives, Bacon started to form new laws within the colony. Once again, Bacon still had prejudice and malevolent views towards the Natives and wanted all of the Natives gone from Virginia. 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. 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.
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