Rebellion What is a rebellion What comes to

Rebellion • What is a rebellion? What comes to mind when you hear this word? • What conditions bring about rebellion? • Can rebellions be prevented? Explain. • What rebellions can you think of throughout history?

BACON’S REBELLION The American Colonies Virginia, 1675

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

• 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!!!

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 Indians are killed • Retaliation comes

Cry for War!! • VA Governor William Berkeley refuses to authorize a war • Farmers are furious at Government • But here comes…Nathaniel Bacon: • Led poor farmers, indentured servants, even slaves on a rampage

Nathaniel Bacon

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

But Then… • Bacon dies suddenly (dysentery) • Rebellion fades out • HOUSE OF BURGESSES – VA Assembly votes to lower taxes and open up some land

PRECURSORS TO BACON’S REBELLION • 1. One crop economy • 2. Indentured Servitude • 3. Soil Dying

CAUSES OF BACON’S REBELLION 1. Tobacco Price Fall 2. Lack of Available Land 3. High Taxes 4. No Government Help

EFFECTS OF BACON’S REBELLION 1. Farmers Start War 2. Invasion of Native American Lands 3. Attack Wealthy Planters

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

OUTCOME OF BACON’S REBELLION 1. Some Government 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

Discussion • Why is Bacon’s Rebellion significant? • What other options do people have to express discontent, other than rebellion? • What is effective about rebellions? What can be ineffective about a rebellion? • Do you think this rebellion (directly or indirectly) influenced the American Revolution 100 years later? Explain. • Why do you think rebellions were so prominent throughout colonial history?

What is the SIGNIFICANCE of Bacon’s Rebellion? • The Significance of Bacon’s Rebellion is that African Slavery was expanded in the American Colonies