BACON’S REBELLION

The American Colonies

Virginia, 1675

ORIGINAL 13 COLONIES

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

• What if something goes wrong???

PRECURSORS TO BACON’S REBELLION

• 1. One crop economy

• 2. Indentured Servitude

• 3. Soil Dying

Something Does!!!

• 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!!!

• But there is no more land…for colonists

• Who has the rest???

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 Susquehannocks are killed• Retaliation comes

Cry for War!!

• VA Governor William Berkeley refuses to authorize a war

• Farmers are furious at Gov’t

• In steps…

• Nathaniel Bacon

• Led poor farmers, indentured servants, even slaves on a rampage

N. BACON

CAUSES OF BACON’S REBELLION

• 1. Tobacco Price Fall

• 2. Lack of Available Land

• 3. High Taxes

• 4. No Gov’t Help

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

EFFECTSOF BACON’S REBELLION

• 1. Farmers Start War

• 2. Invasion of Native American Lands

• 3. Attack Wealthy Planters

But Then…

• Bacon dies suddenly

• Rebellion fades out

• HOUSE OF BURGESSES – VA Assembly votes to lower taxes and open up some land

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

OUTCOMEOF BACON’S REBELLION

• 1. Some Gov’t 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

What is the SIGNIFICANCE of Bacon’s Rebellion?

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

• (Cause and Effect!!!)• (Changes over Time!!!)