The Beginning Of A Change
Bacon’s Rebellion was the start of a change. It was an early showing of the revolutionary change that would take place nearly a hundred years later referencing to the American Revolution. Bacon’s Rebellion was important because it showed the early desire of Democracy among the Colonial Americans’ in the House of Burgesses. Nathaniel Bacon and governor William Berkeley did not always have a troublesome relationship. They were actually cousins due to Berkeley’s marriage to Bacon’s cousin. When Bacon had come to Virginia to make something of himself he was given a vast amount of land by no other than his cousin and governor Berkeley. Nonetheless that did not stop the feud that was to come. Due to negligence and self
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They needed commission to go on and attack the Indians head on but there was an issue that nobody spoke of. Even if Governor Berkeley wanted to help Nathaniel and his supporters take down the Indians civilly, according to the law he would not be able to. “According to the law Indians were not allowed to be prosecuted, seized, or complained against… would it not be guilty to say that they were unjustly defended and protected for all this time?” (Bacon’s Manifesto). Through the quote stated above by Nathaniel Bacon he had no choice but to ask for permission to use violence. Due to such laws Bacon and his supporters had to resort to violence acts. The law unjustly protects a certain group of citizens compared to other groups. It is my belief that in Bacon’s Manifesto he was indirectly stating that there was a need for change in the House of Burgesses and its laws. If there were laws in place to prosecute the Indians, then violence wouldn’t have been necessary. The lack of such a law forced such a radical attack on Jamestown and the Indians. Through the quote stated it shows us as the readers that they cried for a democratic system! One of the underlying details of a democratic system is that everyone has equal protection under the law. Under the current circumstances the Indians could get away with any actions without having to suffer consequences. The citizens in the council shouldn’t have been allowed to sway their loyalty to where they saw fit. They supported in what was in their best interest and profit. In a democratic system that Bacon and his supporters cried for, the council members must be impartial. Nathaniel wanted to get rid of such rules according to Bacon’s Manifesto, so that others and himself would not have to stoop to such