The Significance Of Nathaniel Bacon's Rebellion

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Nathaniel Bacon is one of the few rebellious people whose name has been taught from school to school in America. “Why is that?”, you may ask, “Why him? Why is his rebellion significant in American history?”. Bacon’s rebellion used to be seen as the start of the American Revolution, but now, modern historians have uncovered the truth of the Virginian Rebellion of 1676. (McCulley, 1987) Historians have found out that the real issue that caused Nathaniel Bacon’s rebellion was his stubbornness, selfishness and as well as, the unlucky choices and decisions Governor Sir William Berkeley made for appointment. People may specifically point fingers to a number of reasons for Bacon's rebellion, they may include the following: economic problems, competition …show more content…

When Berkeley arrived, Nathaniel Bacon left with 200 of his men looking for a better place to hold a meeting. Berkeley then declared Nathaniel Bacon a rebel and issued a pardoning to Bacon's fleet if they went home and didn’t provoke conflict. Berkeley said that if Bacon did go home peacefully that he would have to give up his place in the council, but he was going to be given a just trial for his actions. However, Bacon refused to quit his fight. Instead, he attacked the village of some friendly Indians. Berkeley was having to face a real rebel, in the state of desperation, he told Nathaniel Bacon that if he gave himself up, he could face trial in England. However, the House of Burgesses disagreed and said that Nathaniel Bacon had to beg to the Governor, Berkeley himself, for forgiveness. Nathaniel Bacon was then elected into the House of Burgesses by some landowners. For the reason of that election he went to a assembly in June 1676, which marks history because of what he did on this historic day. (McCulley, 1987) When he went into the meeting, expecting to discuss their lands, he was surrounded and forced to apologize to Berkeley. Berkeley forgave him. After a few discussions with the rest of the men, he realized that almost all of the men agreed with him on the issue with the Indians. He left and then returned with …show more content…

Nathaniel Bacon was ruler of Jamestown for only three months in 1676. (McCulley, 1987)While Nathaniel Bacon ruled, Governor Berkeley tried to get people to rebel against Nathaniel Bacon, but the approval for Bacon was still strong and Berkeley had to give up and run