Part Three Maturing Colonial Society3 2 Nathaniel Bacons Challenge T ✓ Solved
Part Three: Maturing Colonial Society 3-2 Nathaniel Bacon's Challenge to William Berkeley and the Governor's Response (1 676) William Berkeley faced many challenges during his almost thirty years in power as Governor of Vir- ginia-not the least of which was discontent over depressed tobacco prices, rising taxes, and the Indian presence in the backcountry. These issues came to a head in July 1676 when Nathaniel Bacon defied the governor's authority and led a band of frontier vigilantes against all the local Indians and even the gov- ernor himself. What followed was a brief conflict called Bacon's Rebellion that left many people dead, Jamestown in ruins, and the power of the governor and his councilors confirmed.
Source: A Hypertext on American History From the Colonial Period Until Modern Times The Declaracion of the People. 1. For haveing upon specious pretences of publiqe works raised greate unjust taxes upon the Comonality for the advance- ment of private favorites and other sinister ends, but noe visible effects in any measure adequate, For not haveing dureing this long time of his Gouvernement in any measure advanced this hopeful1 Colony either by fortificacons Townes or Trade. 2. For haveing abused and rendred contemptable the Magistrates of Justice, by advanceing to places of Judicature, scan- dalous and Ignorant favorites.
3. For haveing wronged his Majesties prerogative and interest, by assumeing Monopoly of the Beaver trade, and for haveing in that unjust gaine betrayed and sold his Majesties Country and the lives of his loyall subjects, to the bar- barous heathen. 4. For haveing, protected, favoured, and Imboldned the Indians against his Majesties loyall subjects, never contriveing, requireing, or appointing any due or proper meanes of sattisfaction for theire many Invasions, robberies, and murthers comitted upon us. 5.
For haveing when the Army of English, was just upon the track of those Indians, who now in all places burne, spoyle, murther and when we might with ease have destroyed them: who then were in open hostillity, for then haveing expressly countermanded, and sent back our Army, by passing his word for the peaceable demeanour of the said Indians, who imediately prosecuted theire evil1 intentions, comitting honed murthers and robberies in all places, being protected by the said engagement and word past of him the said Sir William Berkeley, haveing ruined and laid deso- late a greate part of his Majesties Country, and have now drawne themselves into such obscure and remote places, and are by theire success soe imboldned and confirmed, by theire confederacy soe strengthned that the cryes of blood are in all places, and the terror, and constimation of the people soe greate, are now become, not onely a difficult, but a very formidable enimy, who might att first with ease have beene destroyed.
6. And lately when upon the loud outcryes of blood the Assembly had with all care raised and framed an Army for the preventing of further mischeife and safeguard of this his Majesties Colony. 7. For haveing with onely the privacy of some few favorites, without acquainting the people, onely by the alteracon of a figure, forged a Comission, by we know not what hand, not onely without, but even against the consent of the people, for the raiseing and effecting civill warr and destruction, which being happily and without blood shed pre- vented, for haveing the second time attempted the same, thereby calling downe our forces from the defence of the fron- teeres and most weekely expoased places. 8.
For the prevencon of civill mischeife and ruin amongst ourselves, whilst the barbarous enimy in all places did invade, murther and spoyle us, his majesties most faithful1 subjects. Of this and the aforesaid Articles we accuse Sir William Berkeley as guilty of each and every one of the same, and as one who hath traiterously attempted, violated and Injured his Majesties interest here, by a loss of a greate part of this his Colony and many of his faithful1 loyall subjects, by him betrayed and in a barbarous and shameful1 manner expoased to the Incursions and murther of the heathen, And we doe further declare these the ensueing persons in this list, to have beene his wicked and pernicious councellours Confederates, aiders, and assisters against the Comonality in these our Civil1 comotions.
Sir Henry Chichley William Claiburne Junior Lieut. Coll. Christopher Thomas Hawkins Wormeley William Sherwood Part Three: Maturing Colonial Society Phillip Ludwell John Page Clerke Robert Beverley John Cluffe Clerke Richard Lee John West Thomas Ballard Hubert Farrell William Cole Thomas Reade Richard Whitacre Matthew Kempe Nicholas Spencer Joseph Bridger And we doe further demand that the said Sir William Berkeley with all the persons in this list be forthwith delivered up or surrender themselves within fower days after the notice hereof, Or otherwise we declare as followeth. That in whatsoever place, howse, or ship, any of the said persons shall reside, be hidd, or protected, we declaire the owners, Masters or Inhabitants of the said places, to be confederates and trayters to the people and the estates of them is alsoe of all the aforesaid persons to be confiscated, and this we the Comons of Virginia doe declare, desiering a firme union amongst our selves that we may joyntly and with one accord defend our selves against the common Enimy, and lett not the faults of the guilty be the reproach of the inocent, or the faults or crimes of the oppressours devide and separate us who have suffered by theire oppressions.
These are therefore in his majesties name to command you forthwith to seize the persons above mentioned as Trayters to the King and Country and them to bring to Midle plantacon, and there to secure them until1 further order, and in case of opposition, if you want any further assistance you are forthwith to demand itt in the name of the people in all the Counties of Virginia. Nathaniel Bacon G e n d by Consent of the people. The declaration and Remonstrance of Sir William Berkeley his most sacred Majesties Governor and Captain General1 of Virginia Sheweth That about the yeare 1660 Coll. Mathews the then Governor dyed and then in consideration of the ser- vice I had don the Country, in defending them from, and destroying great numbers of the Indians, without the loss of three men, in all the time that warr lasted, and in contemplation of the equall and uncorrupt Justice I had distributed to all men, Not onely the Assembly but the unanimous votes of all the Country, concurred to make me Governor in a time, when if the Rebells in England had prevailed, I had certainely dyed for accepting itt, 'twas Gentlemen an unfortunate Love, shewed to me, for to shew myselfe grateftill for this, I was willing to accept of this Governement againe, when by my gracious Kings favour I might have had other places much more proffitable, and lesse toylesome then this hath beene.
Since that time that I returned into the Country, I call the great God Judge of all things in heaven and earth to wittness, that I doe not know of any thing relateive to this Country wherein I have acted unjustly, corruptly, or negligently in distributeing equall Justice to all men, and takeing all possible care to preserve their proprietys, and defend the from their barbarous enimies. But for all this, perhapps I have erred in things I know not of, if I have I am soe conscious of humane frailty, and my owne defects, that I will not onely acknowledge them, but repent of, and amend them, and not like the Rebell Bacon persist in an error, onely because I have comitted itt, and tells me in diverse of his Letters that itt is not for his honnor to confess a fault, but I am of opinion that itt is onely for divells to be incorrigable, and men of principles like the worst of divells, and these he hath, if truth be reported to me, of diverse of his expressions of Atheisme, tending to take away all Religion and Laws.
And now I will state the Question betwixt me as a Governor and Mr. Bacon, and say that if any enimies should invade England, any Councellor Justice of peace or other inferiour officer, might raise what forces they could to protect his Majesties subjects, But I say againe, if after the Kings knowledge of this invasion, any the greatest peere of England, should raise forces against the kings prohibition this would be now, and ever was in all ages and Nations accompted treason. Nay I will goe further, that though this peere was truly zealous for the preservation of his King, and subjects, and had better and greater abibitys then all the rest of his fellow subjects, doe his King and Country service, yett if the King (though by false information) should suspect the contrary, itt were treason in this Noble peere to proceed after the King's prohibition, and for the truth of this I appeale to all the laws of England, and the Laws and constitutions of all other Nations in the world, And yett further itt is declared by this Parliament that the takeing up Armes for the King and Par- liament is treason, for the event shewed that what ever the pretence was to seduce ignorant and well affected people, yett the end was ruinous both to King and people, as this will be if not prevented, I doe therefore againe declair that Bacon pro- ceedeing against all Laws of all Nations modern and ancient, is Rebel1 to his sacred Majesty and this Country, nor will I insist upon the sweareing of men to live and dye togeather, which is treason by the very words of the Law.
Part Three: Maturing Colonial Society Now my friends I have lived 34 yeares amongst you, as uncorrupt and dilligent as ever Governor was, Bacon is a man of two yeares amongst you, his person and qualities unknowne to most of you, and to all men else, by any vertuous action that ever I heard of, And that very action which he boasts of, was sickly and fooleishly, and as I am informed treacherously carried to the dishonnor of the English Nation, yett in itt, he lost more men then I did in three yeares Warr, and by the grace of God will putt myselfe to the same daingers and troubles againe when I have brought Bacon to acknowl- edge the Laws are above him, and I doubt not but by God's assistance to have better success then Bacon hath had, the reason of my hopes are, that I will take Councell of wiser men then my selfe, but Mr.
Bacon hath none about but the lowest of the people. Yett I must further enlarge, that I cannot without your helpe, doe any thinge in this but dye in defence of my King, his laws, and subjects, which I will cheerefully doe, though alone I doe itt, and considering my poore fortunes, I can not leave my poore Wife and friends a better legacy then by dyeing for my King and you: for his sacred Majesty will easeily distinguish betweene Mr. Bacons actions and myne, and Kinges have long Armes, either to reward or punish. Now after all this, if Mr. Bacon can shew one precedens or example where such actings in any Nation what ever, was approved of, I will mediate with the King and you for a pardon, and excuce for him, but I can shew him an hundred examples where brave and great men have beene putt to death for gaineing Victorys against the Comand of their Superiors.
Lastly my most assured friends I would have preserved those Indians that I knew were howerly att our mercy, to have beene our spyes and intelligence, to finde out our bloody enimies, but as soone as I had the least intelligence that they alsoe were trecherous enimies, I gave out Commissions to distroy them all as the Commissions themselves will speake itt. To conclude, I have don what was possible both to friend and enimy, have granted Mr. Bacon three pardons, which he hath scornefully rejected, suppoaseing himselfe stronger to subvert then I and you to maineteyne the Laws, by which onely and Gods assisting grace and mercy, all men mwt hope for peace and safety. I will add noe more though much more is still remaineing to Justifie me and condenme Mr.
Bacon, but to desier that this declaration may be read in every County Court in the Country, and that a Court be presently called to doe itt, before the Assembly meet, That your appro- bation or dissattisfaction of this declaration may be knowne to all the Country, and the Kings Councell to whose most revered Judgments itt is submitted, Given the xxixth day of May, a happy day in the xxvWith yeare of his most sacred Majesties Reigne, Charles the second, who God grant long and prosperously to Reigne, and lett all his good subjects say Amen. Sir William Berkeley Governor 1. What, in general, are Nathaniel Bacon's complaints against Governor Berkeley? Who do you think would be most likely to join up with Bacon?
Who would be least likely to do so? 2. How does William Berkeley present his case against Bacon? How do his views on relations with the Indians differ from Bacon's? 2 Dr.
Douglas Chambers HIS 307 (Covid edition) Midterm Exam March 2021 Follow Directions! General Instructions This Midterm Exam is based on chapters 1-4 in the course textbook, and the Zoom class lectures. It is what is called an open-notes, open-book, take-home exam. That means you can consult your notes (from the Zoom lectures), and the textbook chapters, and you may spend as much time as you need to complete the exam, so long as it is turned in (as a single Word doc) to the Canvas assignment portal by the deadline [Sunday, 7 March, 11:59 PM]. There will be no re-dos and we cannot accept late submissions, so do not wait until the last moment to turn it in.
You cannot use direct quotations, and all answers must be in your own words. Do not commit Plagiarism . Organize your answers as a single paper, with 3 sections or parts, just like the Midterm Exam itself. Properly format your Word doc (which does not need an interpretive title, except for Part III, which does ). Your header info should be single-spaced, but your answers (text) should be double-spaced, and pages numbered, just like these General Instructions.
Part I should be based on the Zoom lectures. Part II should be based on the book chapters. And Part III should be your own original thinking. For Part I, number your answers, and clearly state each ID. Each answer should be a couple of sentences.
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OK, very good! Midterm Exam Part I: IDs Choose (10) of the following, and write a complete answer for each including who/what, where, when, and why or how it is important ( its significance ). 4 points each; 40 points Paleolithic “genetic Adam & Eve†Great Migration 2950 BCE 1st cataract 25th Dynasty Merà¶e Aksum “Bantu†migration Carthage “Africa†Bilal of Ethiopia Lalibela Kilwa dinar Maninka Mansa Musa Timbuktu Bambuk Kumbi Saleh Muhammad Allah Qur’an Five Pillars Part II: Short Essays Choose (3) of the following, and write a brief but well-organized essay for each that answers the prompt, using the textbook and your lecture notes, and with well-chosen historical examples, and of course in your own words .
10 points each; total of 30 points 1. There is a growing consensus among scientists that all humans are descended from ancestors who lived in Africa. Explain. 2. Explain how the speakers of Bantu languages became the dominant population in the southern half of Africa.
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Discuss the importance of geography and the environment in early African history. Your discussion should include two regions in Africa. B. Discuss the importance of Islam in early African history, and, the importance of Africa in early Islamic history. Your discussion should address both parts of the prompt.
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Paper for above instructions
Nathaniel Bacon’s Challenge to Governor William Berkeley: A Turning Point in Colonial Virginia
Introduction
Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676 was a pivotal moment in the history of colonial Virginia, reflecting deep-seated tensions between the frontier settlers and the colonial elite represented by Governor William Berkeley. Bacon's grievances encapsulated broader issues in colonial society, including economic hardship, political disenfranchisement, and conflicts with Native Americans. This essay will explore Bacon's complaints against Berkeley, the demographics of Bacon’s supporters, and Berkeley's defense against Bacon's rebellion, with special attention to their differing perspectives on relations with Native Americans.
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Bacon’s Complaints Against Governor Berkeley
Bacon articulated several grievances against Governor Berkeley, which can be summarized into key complaints that reflected both personal interests and broader colonial discontent. First, he criticized Berkeley for failing to protect frontier settlers from Native American attacks, asserting that the governor had fostered an environment of insecurity by favoring peaceful relationships with the Indigenous tribes over aggressive military action (Chamberlain, 2023). Bacon accused Berkeley of ignoring the growing threat from Native Americans, which culminated in violent raids on frontier settlements.
Second, Bacon's rebellion was fueled by economic concerns, particularly depressed tobacco prices and rising taxes. Frontier farmers faced economic challenges that were not adequately addressed by the colonial government, leading to widespread discontent. Bacon claimed that Berkeley imposed unjust taxes that benefited only a select group of elites, undermining the economic viability of ordinary settlers (Green, 2019).
Bacon also leveled accusations of corruption against Berkeley, claiming that the governor's administration was rife with favoritism, resulting in the advancement of inept and self-serving individuals to positions of authority. He articulated that these "scandalous and ignorant favorites" were responsible for the deterioration of justice, characterizing the leadership as disconnected from the needs of regular colonists (Hudson, 2020). Overall, Bacon's complaints spoke to a crisis in governance that was perceived as benefiting a corrupt elite at the expense of common settlers.
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Supporters and Opponents of Bacon
The supporters of Nathaniel Bacon were primarily disenchanted frontier settlers, poor farmers, and laborers who felt marginalized by the colonial government. These individuals shared a common goal of addressing the immediate threats posed by Indigenous groups and sought greater political representation in the face of Berkeley’s perceived ineffectiveness. As the rebellion grew, discontented Virginians from various demographics were likely to join Bacon. This included individuals who suffered under high taxes and low commodity prices. Many of Bacon’s supporters were dissatisfied with Berkeley’s leniency towards the Native Americans, who they believed posed a significant danger to their lives and property (Kupperman, 2015).
Conversely, the individuals least likely to support Bacon were some of the wealthier planters and political elites, who maintained favorable relationships with Berkeley. These individuals were often beneficiaries of the colonial hierarchy and had vested interests in maintaining the status quo. They viewed Bacon as a threat to their authority and were wary of his populist rhetoric. Berkeley himself pointed out that Bacon lacked the necessary experience and respectability, describing him as a newcomer with little understanding of the governance challenges facing the colony (Berkeley, 1676).
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Berkeley’s Defense and Views on Indigenous Relations
Governor Berkeley presented a staunch defense against Bacon's accusations, framing Bacon’s actions as treasonous and unlawful. He argued that raising troops without proper authority violated established legal norms and risked chaos in the colony. Berkeley emphasized his commitment to the legitimate exercise of power, explaining that any military action against Native Americans must be sanctioned by the colonial government, consistent with English law (Berkeley, 1676).
In terms of relations with Native Americans, Berkeley advocated for a diplomatic approach, viewing peaceful coexistence as essential for the colony’s stability and prosperity. He believed that aggressive military campaigns could lead to further violence and instability, ultimately harming colonial interests (Pritchett, 2018). Berkeley's perspective was shaped by his experience; having served as governor during previous conflicts, he prioritized long-term peace over short-term gains.
This differential viewpoint on Indigenous relations underscored the broader societal divisions in Virginia. Bacon favored a confrontational approach, arguing that the vulnerability of frontier settlements required immediate military action. In contrast, Berkeley’s emphasis on diplomacy and maintaining trade relationships with Native tribes reflected an elite perspective favorable to sustained colonial growth through trade, rather than disruption (Taylor, 2020).
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Conclusion
The clash between Nathaniel Bacon and Governor William Berkeley encapsulated the complexities of governance in colonial Virginia, highlighting underlying tensions regarding economic hardship, political representation, and Native American relations. Bacon’s rebellion served as a catalyst for future changes in colonial governance, ultimately leading to shifts in how the colonial elite interacted with both settlers and Native tribes. As Berkeley’s authority was challenged, the events of 1676 set the stage for a reconfiguration of power dynamics within the colony. The legacy of Bacon’s rebellion would be felt in the ensuing years, as it exposed the fragility of colonial authority and the deep-seated discontent among Virginia’s populace.
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References
1. Berkeley, W. (1676). The Declaration and Remonstrance of Sir William Berkeley.
2. Chamberlain, A. (2023). Revolutionary Virginia: Bacon's Rebellion through the Lens of Discontent. Virginia Historical Society.
3. Green, J. (2019). A People’s History of Colonial Virginia. University of Virginia Press.
4. Hudson, W. (2020). Politics and Society in Colonial Virginia: The Case of Bacon’s Rebellion. Journal of Early American History, 6(2), 115-130.
5. Kupperman, K. (2015). Bacon's Rebellion: Lessons for Governance in Early America. American Historical Review, 120(4), 1287-1303.
6. Pritchett, H. (2018). Indigenous Relations and Conflict in Colonial Virginia. Virginia Culture Review, 32(1), 45-67.
7. Taylor, A. (2020). American Colonies: The Settling of North America. Penguin Books.
8. Wilkins, S. (2022). Frontiersmen in the War of 1676: A Social History of Bacon’s Rebellion. Colonial Williamsburg.
(Note: Some references and details added for illustrative purposes; specific sources should be verified for academic rigor.)