American History Opposing Viewpoints Project: Research Paper American History Opposing Viewpoints Project: Research Paper Bacon’s Rebellions of 1676 is one of the important historical events in the history of Virginia and the U.S. at large. However, the event has been marred with conflicting accounts of what happened and the factors that influenced it, leading to the interest of scholars in trying to study and address gaps in history. For many years, the Bacon rebellions were considered a revolutionary event that tried to free Americans from the chains of colonialism and brutality (Washburn, 1957). Historians credited the event for being the early expression of revolutionary sentiments in America that set the ground for the American Revolution. The research shows that people understand the Bacon Rebellions differently based on their viewpoints and depth of studying the event. Nathaniel Bacon, the main force behind the rebellion, was not a revolutionist nor a poor person fighting autocracy.
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According to Washburn (1957), Bacon was a rebel interested in pursuing personal interests rather than freeing Virginians from colonial rule. His problem with Governor William Berkeley, his cousin, emanated from economic and political issues. Bacon rebelled against the governor after his raids against Indian tribes were condemned by the government, and his political power downsized. Neville (1976) observes that Bacon leveraged the prevailing social, economic, and political challenges to rally disgruntled Virginians behind him. High taxes and economic slowdown left Virginians in more hardship. Therefore, the rebellion was impacted by various factors, most of which had little to do with the agitation for freedom. Moreover, the "Declaration of the People" issued by Bacon on July 30, 1676, did not indicate any willingness on his side to revolt against the colonial rule; instead, he affirmed his loyalty to the Crown (Neville, 1976). He accused Governor Berkeley of endangering his Majesty's interests and those of his subjects. The declaration underscores the view that Bacon acted on self-interests, making the rebellion he led a power contest among the rich and oppressors rather than agitation for a revolution that would lead to the independence of Virginia and America at large (Neville, 1976). Consequently, the leadership of the Bacon Rebellions did not challenge the Crown and its authority that perpetrated subjugation of the masses, but rather south to replace the then governor and continue paying allegiance to the Crown. The quick loss of support Bacon suffered after taking over the reins of power in Virginia is another indication that he did not act in the public interest. Immediately after he took over, he was more concerned about entrenching himself in power than resolving the issues that affected his supporters (Washburn, 1957). As a result, he allowed lawlessness to thrive as his fighters used force to take over properties belonging to those whom they considered opponents. The native Indians were also a major target of abuse by Bacon's short-lived regime (Washburn,
1957). In this respect, the view that the Bacon Rebellions were not acts of revolution holds water because he did not act in the best interest of the masses but in his idiosyncratic interests. Moreover, if the Bacon Rebellion was anything closer to a revolution, the death of Bacon would not have marked the failure of the revolution. Another leader from the rebellion would have taken over and led the masses to effect and entrench change. The sudden death of Bacon saw Governor Berkeley regain his power (Neville, 1976). It is also critical to note that research shows that people disobeyed Bacon's directive to capture governor Berkeley after he was temporarily disposed of. In an ideal revolutionary moment, the masses hate the disposed leaders and would not waste any chance to capture and even kill them (Washburn, 1957). The return to power of Governor Berkeley was attributed to Bacon’s failures that killed the spirit of rebellion within the masses. On the other hand, the research also shows that the Bacon Rebellions provided ground for the American Revolution by revealing how African Americans could work with the white for a common agenda. According to Webb (1984), during the rebellion, people of African descent fought alongside their wide counterparts, bridging the racial divide to advance political and economic interests. The American revolution that happened 100 years later brought together people from various races and ethnic communities to fight colonialism and eventually free America from British rule (Webb, 1984). The insensitivity of the government of Virginia under Governor Berkeley to the plight of the masses fermented the rebellion. The discontent about how the government handled taxation, trade, and the general economy provided grounds for revolt. Bacon capitalized on the dissatisfaction to advance the anti-governor Berkeley sentiment and eventually take over power for some time (Neville, 1976). In this respect, the Bacon Rebellion was the early expression of how dissatisfied masses can result in a revolution. The rebellions
provided a reference point for future rebellion, the American Revolution included (Neville, 1976). The Bacon revolution's successes and failures offered lessons leveraged to guide the American revolution.
References Neville, J. D. (1976). Bacon's Rebellion. Abstracts of Materials in the Colonial Records Project. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Washburn, W. E. (1957). The Governor and the Rebel. University of North Carolina Press. Webb, S. S. (1984). 1676-The End of American Independence. Alfred A. Knope, 1984.