Thursday, October 30, 2008
Synthesis
The Stamp Act is probably the single worst political decisions ever made. What was probably expected to just be a simple tax movement, ended in consequences much more severe. When the act was originally passed in 1765 there could have been no way for Parliment to percive the vicious backlash that this would create. The Stamp Act was basically a tax on everything that had a stamp on it. Since everything at the time that came from England was considered the best, many colonists relyed on everything to be shipped to them. This not only angered people that they had to pay all this extra money, but also the principle that they had no say in the process. They had been independently governed for such a long time, the thought of being ruled over by another governing body stirred up a lot of unrest in the colonies. This would become the flash point that started the American Revolution rolling.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Text Analysis : Circular Letter of the Boston Committee of Correspondence; May 13, 1774
This letter discusses the downsides of the recent act of Parliament for the Boston colony. It is written by The Boston Committee of Correspondence, with the intent of it reaching British Parliament to possibly repeal these acts, as well to alert the people of Boston to these problems. It is these people that they are represnting, as well as trying to protect in this letter. To try and better get their argument across, the tone of this letter stays very straightforward an clear, but you can definatly tell that they are trying to persaude as many people as possible to their side. They do this by pointing out how illogical these changes are if Boston is to survive.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Essay #1 Reflection
This essay has completely changed the way I write. This is probably because I had a crazy English teacher the last two years, who had a plan for every sentence, of every paragraph of every paper we wrote. I can not tell you how good it felt to actually feel like I had a voice in my own writing, and not some robotic conformance to the rules.
I have also never enjoyed writing about history and this essay changed that too. With the ability to use so many more sources on a topic of my choice, I went a lot farther in depth then I had ever gone before. I was able to write about something I cared about, instead of being forced to pick a side on a topic I had no interest in. The combination of these two is created the most enjoyable writing experience I have had in a long time.
Its been a long time since I have been able to say I enjoyed my writing, or even that I was proud of my writing, and at the end of this essay I was able to say both. It let me rediscover my voice, but also my love for writing.
I have also never enjoyed writing about history and this essay changed that too. With the ability to use so many more sources on a topic of my choice, I went a lot farther in depth then I had ever gone before. I was able to write about something I cared about, instead of being forced to pick a side on a topic I had no interest in. The combination of these two is created the most enjoyable writing experience I have had in a long time.
Its been a long time since I have been able to say I enjoyed my writing, or even that I was proud of my writing, and at the end of this essay I was able to say both. It let me rediscover my voice, but also my love for writing.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Decision making is a major part of being a human being. We all make thousands of decisions a day. We are capable of taking in large quantities of information and doing what we decided is best. Not all decisions are easy ones. Sometimes there is such are large amount of varying information that It is hard to make a decision. Take election season for example. Nearly every commercial break is filled with slanderous commercials, endorsed by candidates calling each other everything short of demon spawn. All this conflicting information makes it hard to take a firm stand on anything. On historical event where this is most blatantly seen is Bacons Rebellion.
Bacons rebellion was a poor farming revolution that took place in the Virginia in 1676, against the threats that the colonists thought were facing them. An oppressive government and hostile natives. Nathanial Bacon, the leader of this rebellion was a somewhat wealthy landowner at the time. He united a large army against the government and the natives, after more and more native attacks on colonists went unanswered by the government. They attempted to overthrow the government but in the end were not successful. However this was not the end of Bacons historical significance.
Bacons rebellion had many effects on the colonies as well as the future of the United States of America. Many people assume that the leader of this important event would be highly respected and regarded as a hero. However those who know a little about the Rebellion know that this is not necessarily true. Nathanial Bacon is viewed in many conflicting ways. A hero, a villain, a traitor, and a visionary. As a historical figure, why is Nathanial Bacon viewed in so many conflicting ways? These conflicting ideals are probably due to the how multi-sided Bacon was as a person.
Common sense tends to dictate that the only act of Bacon's that is not debatable is the fact that he lead a rebellion of poor farmers and the lower class of the colonies against what he thought were the main threats to their welfare. The natives, who were upset with the colonists for intruding on their lands, the government who was refusing to provide protection, or give permission to the colonists to protect themselves. He organized militias, and united these demoralized people against something.
In fact they celebrate the fact that Bacon was their gracious leader. Life was far from easy for the colonists, and no one seemed to care about their safety or well being. The dropping price of tobacco, which was a major export for the settlements, resulted in the same amount of work for a lot less money. Not surprisingly, all of these factors lead to a very volatile situation. The oppression the colonists began to feel from the government, who were implementing more taxes and refusing to protect them from the nearby Indians only added fuel to the fire.
Bacon was the beacon of hope to these people. According to Robert Beverley “In a word, he was everyway qualified to head a giddy and unthinking multitude.” , and this was a role that Bacon accepted and fulfilled to the best of his abilities. He organized and orchestrated a plan to overthrow and undermine the government, as well as formulated a plan to protect the frontiers from native invasion and attack. He took office in the government and did his best to help the people in a cause that he truly cared about. This part of Bacons life is hard to debate. How he carried out his plans are where the true debate begins.
One of the many adjustments that colonists had to make when they moved to the colonies was adjusting to the natives that lived near them. Many colonists assumed that that the Indians that surrounded them were dangerous and wanted them to be eliminated from Virginia. Most of these Indians however lived on treaty protected land. Therefore Governor Berkley and the government were hesitant to attack. This hesitance made the colonists suspicious that Berkley was more sympathetic to the Indians then to his own people. Bacon used these suspicions and his eloquence to unite the colonists. In a speech given at the Green Spring Old Fields, Bacon rallied his troops by saying “You have victory before the fight, the conquest before the battle. I know you can and dare to fight while they will lie in their place of refuge and dare not so much as appear in the field before you”. One of the least arguable of Bacons trait is his ability to rally a crowd.
This gave colonists, who had never been sympathetic to the natives, justification to kill. Possibly because of the oppression they felt, combined with the dismal conditions, this soon got out of hand. “The [Indians] began and killed one of our men, which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so thick that the groans of men women and children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing could not hinder them from being heard.” This anonymous account paints a clear picture of how many of these battles were fought. The collective short fuse of the colonists, lead to innocent men and women and sometimes even children being killed. Even the SusqueHanoughs, who had been friendly toward the colonists since their landing in America, were not safe from Bacon’s forces. As more and more Indians died at the hands of Bacons men, more and more Indians began to see him as a villainous murderer.
Yet another varying view of Bacon is that of a traitor. This view was chiefly adopted by Governor William Berkley himself. Berkley adopted this view after Bacon defied his direct orders. Before the rebellion, Bacon had requested many times that he be able to lead forces against the Indians with Berkley’s permission. Each time he requested this, Berkley turned him down. Bacon eventually carried out his plans, which infuriated the Governor.
His opinions of Bacon are best condensed in his Declaration against the proceedings of Nathanial Bacon where he states “I am so conscious of human frailty and my own defects, that I will not only acknowledge them, but repent of and amend them, and not, like the rebel Bacon, persist in an error only because I have committed it”. This quote to me vividly illustrates that Berkely may have even been a little jealous of the loyalty that his subjects were showing to Bacon. Berkley seems to feel that he is more trustworthy, yet all of this people are lining up behind Bacon.. You can definitely tell from this quote that Berkley felt threatened by the power that Bacon had over his people. This is probably why he decided to declare Bacon as a traitor and issue an order for his capture. However, his fears were well founded and he was twice forced out of Jamestown by supporters of the rebellion.
In the end, Bacon died of natural causes and the rebellion died soon after. Supporters were hunted out and killed, but the ideals Bacon implanted in the minds of the colonists lived on. His was the first major rebellion in the new world, and his ideals along with his insistence on the right to bear arms played a major part in the forming of the constitution. This is just another varying view of the Bacon.
As you can see, it is hard for us, who can only relive his story through words in books and secondary retellings, to pick a side. At the same time that I believe that Bacon was nothing short of a murderer who instilled mob mentality into unpredictable minds, I also believe that the ideals that he instilled help in the forming of American ideals even before there was an America. Every side has its evidence to support it. Every side was formed because Nathanial Bacon had a great ability to appeal to people’s emotions. No matter how you view Bacon you have to agree that he was a master at that ability. He demonstrates this ability in every view, whether it be on the side of the natives, colonists or government.
The colonists followed him because he represented what the new world was supposed to mean. A world different from the one they had just left. No more unfounded taxes or oppressive government. They had all wanted a new start and ended up in the same situation as they had just left. Bacon was their chance to get what they had been promised. He represented a true new world and the colonists quickly fell in line behind him. He used his abilities to build an army to follow him. An army that bailed him out many times, an army that was hunted and killed after his death for doing so.
The Natives hated him because he represented the worst kind of colonist. The kind that was ready and able to take away their land, even if they were protected by treaty. He organized the men who were sent to kill them and take away the land that had rightfully been theirs since before the colonists even knew there was a new world. His followers were thought of as malicious and dark hearted. He instilled a fear in them that would cause turmoil between the colonists and the natives for years to come.
Governor Berkley was angry with him, because he was causing a disturbance in the peace he had tried so hard to create in Virginia. Being a governor in a time where the colonies were just beginning to get settled was not an easy job. Berkley had a record to be proud of at the time, and Bacon represented a horrible black mark on that record. He was trying to destroy everything the governor was trying to build.
Nathanial Bacon was a man of many sides. He had a huge influence on many different aspects of the 17th century. For this multidimensionality his memory and legacy result in a multitude of conflicting stories that we all have to cipher through. All this information can overwhelm the process of picking a side, or the ability to back your side up. There are a few facts that are not debatable though. He was a huge historical figure of not only his time but in all that followed him. No matter how you choose to see him, his memory should be respected for the contributions he made.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stedman, Edmund Clarence , and Ellen Mackay Hutchinson . A Library of American Literature from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. C. L. Webster, 1887.
(1894, October). Bacon's Speech at Green Spring. The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 2, 121
Bacons rebellion was a poor farming revolution that took place in the Virginia in 1676, against the threats that the colonists thought were facing them. An oppressive government and hostile natives. Nathanial Bacon, the leader of this rebellion was a somewhat wealthy landowner at the time. He united a large army against the government and the natives, after more and more native attacks on colonists went unanswered by the government. They attempted to overthrow the government but in the end were not successful. However this was not the end of Bacons historical significance.
Bacons rebellion had many effects on the colonies as well as the future of the United States of America. Many people assume that the leader of this important event would be highly respected and regarded as a hero. However those who know a little about the Rebellion know that this is not necessarily true. Nathanial Bacon is viewed in many conflicting ways. A hero, a villain, a traitor, and a visionary. As a historical figure, why is Nathanial Bacon viewed in so many conflicting ways? These conflicting ideals are probably due to the how multi-sided Bacon was as a person.
Common sense tends to dictate that the only act of Bacon's that is not debatable is the fact that he lead a rebellion of poor farmers and the lower class of the colonies against what he thought were the main threats to their welfare. The natives, who were upset with the colonists for intruding on their lands, the government who was refusing to provide protection, or give permission to the colonists to protect themselves. He organized militias, and united these demoralized people against something.
In fact they celebrate the fact that Bacon was their gracious leader. Life was far from easy for the colonists, and no one seemed to care about their safety or well being. The dropping price of tobacco, which was a major export for the settlements, resulted in the same amount of work for a lot less money. Not surprisingly, all of these factors lead to a very volatile situation. The oppression the colonists began to feel from the government, who were implementing more taxes and refusing to protect them from the nearby Indians only added fuel to the fire.
Bacon was the beacon of hope to these people. According to Robert Beverley “In a word, he was everyway qualified to head a giddy and unthinking multitude.” , and this was a role that Bacon accepted and fulfilled to the best of his abilities. He organized and orchestrated a plan to overthrow and undermine the government, as well as formulated a plan to protect the frontiers from native invasion and attack. He took office in the government and did his best to help the people in a cause that he truly cared about. This part of Bacons life is hard to debate. How he carried out his plans are where the true debate begins.
One of the many adjustments that colonists had to make when they moved to the colonies was adjusting to the natives that lived near them. Many colonists assumed that that the Indians that surrounded them were dangerous and wanted them to be eliminated from Virginia. Most of these Indians however lived on treaty protected land. Therefore Governor Berkley and the government were hesitant to attack. This hesitance made the colonists suspicious that Berkley was more sympathetic to the Indians then to his own people. Bacon used these suspicions and his eloquence to unite the colonists. In a speech given at the Green Spring Old Fields, Bacon rallied his troops by saying “You have victory before the fight, the conquest before the battle. I know you can and dare to fight while they will lie in their place of refuge and dare not so much as appear in the field before you”. One of the least arguable of Bacons trait is his ability to rally a crowd.
This gave colonists, who had never been sympathetic to the natives, justification to kill. Possibly because of the oppression they felt, combined with the dismal conditions, this soon got out of hand. “The [Indians] began and killed one of our men, which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so thick that the groans of men women and children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing could not hinder them from being heard.” This anonymous account paints a clear picture of how many of these battles were fought. The collective short fuse of the colonists, lead to innocent men and women and sometimes even children being killed. Even the SusqueHanoughs, who had been friendly toward the colonists since their landing in America, were not safe from Bacon’s forces. As more and more Indians died at the hands of Bacons men, more and more Indians began to see him as a villainous murderer.
Yet another varying view of Bacon is that of a traitor. This view was chiefly adopted by Governor William Berkley himself. Berkley adopted this view after Bacon defied his direct orders. Before the rebellion, Bacon had requested many times that he be able to lead forces against the Indians with Berkley’s permission. Each time he requested this, Berkley turned him down. Bacon eventually carried out his plans, which infuriated the Governor.
His opinions of Bacon are best condensed in his Declaration against the proceedings of Nathanial Bacon where he states “I am so conscious of human frailty and my own defects, that I will not only acknowledge them, but repent of and amend them, and not, like the rebel Bacon, persist in an error only because I have committed it”. This quote to me vividly illustrates that Berkely may have even been a little jealous of the loyalty that his subjects were showing to Bacon. Berkley seems to feel that he is more trustworthy, yet all of this people are lining up behind Bacon.. You can definitely tell from this quote that Berkley felt threatened by the power that Bacon had over his people. This is probably why he decided to declare Bacon as a traitor and issue an order for his capture. However, his fears were well founded and he was twice forced out of Jamestown by supporters of the rebellion.
In the end, Bacon died of natural causes and the rebellion died soon after. Supporters were hunted out and killed, but the ideals Bacon implanted in the minds of the colonists lived on. His was the first major rebellion in the new world, and his ideals along with his insistence on the right to bear arms played a major part in the forming of the constitution. This is just another varying view of the Bacon.
As you can see, it is hard for us, who can only relive his story through words in books and secondary retellings, to pick a side. At the same time that I believe that Bacon was nothing short of a murderer who instilled mob mentality into unpredictable minds, I also believe that the ideals that he instilled help in the forming of American ideals even before there was an America. Every side has its evidence to support it. Every side was formed because Nathanial Bacon had a great ability to appeal to people’s emotions. No matter how you view Bacon you have to agree that he was a master at that ability. He demonstrates this ability in every view, whether it be on the side of the natives, colonists or government.
The colonists followed him because he represented what the new world was supposed to mean. A world different from the one they had just left. No more unfounded taxes or oppressive government. They had all wanted a new start and ended up in the same situation as they had just left. Bacon was their chance to get what they had been promised. He represented a true new world and the colonists quickly fell in line behind him. He used his abilities to build an army to follow him. An army that bailed him out many times, an army that was hunted and killed after his death for doing so.
The Natives hated him because he represented the worst kind of colonist. The kind that was ready and able to take away their land, even if they were protected by treaty. He organized the men who were sent to kill them and take away the land that had rightfully been theirs since before the colonists even knew there was a new world. His followers were thought of as malicious and dark hearted. He instilled a fear in them that would cause turmoil between the colonists and the natives for years to come.
Governor Berkley was angry with him, because he was causing a disturbance in the peace he had tried so hard to create in Virginia. Being a governor in a time where the colonies were just beginning to get settled was not an easy job. Berkley had a record to be proud of at the time, and Bacon represented a horrible black mark on that record. He was trying to destroy everything the governor was trying to build.
Nathanial Bacon was a man of many sides. He had a huge influence on many different aspects of the 17th century. For this multidimensionality his memory and legacy result in a multitude of conflicting stories that we all have to cipher through. All this information can overwhelm the process of picking a side, or the ability to back your side up. There are a few facts that are not debatable though. He was a huge historical figure of not only his time but in all that followed him. No matter how you choose to see him, his memory should be respected for the contributions he made.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stedman, Edmund Clarence , and Ellen Mackay Hutchinson . A Library of American Literature from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. C. L. Webster, 1887.
(1894, October). Bacon's Speech at Green Spring. The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 2, 121
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Revised Draft
Bacons Rebellion had many effects on the colonies as well as the future of the United States of America. Many people assume that the leader of this important event would be highly respected and regarded as a hero. However those who know a little about the Rebellion know that this is not necessarily true. Nathanial Bacon is viewed in many conflicting ways. A hero, a villain, a traitor, and a visionary. As a historical figure, why is Nathanial Bacon viewed in so many conflicting ways? These conflicting ideals are probably due to the how multi-sided Bacon was as a person.
Common sense tends to dictate that the only act of Bacon's that is not debatable is the fact that he lead a rebellion of poor farmers and the lower class of the colonies against what he thought were the main threats to their welfare. The natives, who were upset with the colonists for intruding on their lands, the government who was refusing to provide protection, or give permission to the colonists to protect themselves. He organized militias, and united these demoralized people against something.
In fact they celebrate the fact that Bacon was their gracious leader. Life was far from easy for the colonists, and no one seemed to care about their safety or well being. The dropping price of tobacco, which was a major export for the settlements, resulted in the same amount of work for a lot less money. Not surprisingly, all of these factors lead to a very volatile situation. The oppression the colonists began to feel from the government, who were implementing more taxes and refusing to protect them from the nearby Indians only added fuel to the fire.
Bacon was the beacon of hope to these people. According to Robert Beverley “In a word, he was everyway qualified to head a giddy and unthinking multitude.” , and this was a role that Bacon accepted and fulfilled to the best of his abilities. He organized and orchestrated a plan to overthrow and undermine the government, as well as formulated a plan to protect the frontiers from native invasion and attack. He took office in the government and did his best to help the people in a cause that he truly cared about. This part of Bacons life is hard to debate. How he carried out his plans are where the true debate begins.
Many colonists assumed that that the Indians that surrounded them were dangerous and wanted them to be eliminated from Virginia. Most of these Indians however lived on treaty protected land. Therefore Governor Berkley and the government were hesitant to attack. This hesitance made the colonists suspicious that Berkley was more sympathetic to the Indians then to his own people. These suspicions were a major factor in Bacons decision to organize militias to march against the Indians, even though the governor did not approve.
This gave colonists, who had never been sympathetic to the natives, justification to kill. Possibly because of the oppression they felt, combined with the dismal conditions, this soon got out of hand. “The [Indians] began and killed one of our men, which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so thick that the groans of men women and children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing could not hinder them from being heard.” This anonymous account paints a clear picture of how many of these battles were fought. The collective short fuse of the colonists, lead to innocent men and women and sometimes even children being killed. Even the SusqueHanoughs, who had been friendly toward the colonists since their landing in America, were not safe from Bacon’s forces. As more and more Indians died at the hands of Bacons men, more and more Indians began to see him as a villainous murderer.
Yet another varying view of Bacon is that of a traitor. This view was chiefly adopted by Governor William Berkley himself. Berkley adopted this view after Bacon defied his direct orders. Before the rebellion, Bacon had requested many times that he be able to lead forces against the Indians with Berkley’s permission. Each time he requested this, Berkley turned him down. Bacon eventually carried out his plans, which infuriated the Governor.
His opinions of Bacon are best condensed in his Declaration against the proceedings of Nathanial Bacon where he states “I am so conscious of human frailty and my own defects, that I will not only acknowledge them, but repent of and amend them, and not, like the rebel Bacon, persist in an error only because I have committed it”. In that same Declaration he also states “I have lived thirty-four years amongst you, as uncorrupt and diligent as ever Governor was; Bacon is a man of two years amongst you, his person and qualities unknown to most of you, and to all men else, by any virtuous action that ever I heard of. And that very action which he boasts of was sickly and foolishly, and, as I am informed, treacherously carried to the dishonor of the English nation; yet in it he lost more men than I did in three years' war”. You can tell from these two quotes that Berkley definitely felt threatened by the power that Bacon had over his people. This is probably why he decided to declare Bacon as a traitor and issue an order for his capture. However, his fears were well founded and he was twice forced out of Jamestown by supporters of the rebellion.
In the end, Bacon died of natural causes and the rebellion died soon after. Supporters were hunted out and killed, but the ideals Bacon implanted in the minds of the colonists lived on. His was the first major rebellion in the new world, and his ideals along with his insistence on the right to bear arms played a major part in the forming of the constitution. This is just another varying view of the Bacon.
As you can see, it is hard for us, who can only relive his story through words in books and secondary retellings, to pick a side. At the same time that I believe that Bacon was nothing short of a murderer who instilled mob mentality into unpredictable minds, I also believe that the ideals that he instilled help in the forming of American ideals even before there was an America. Every side has its evidence to support it. Every side was formed because Nathanial Bacon had a great ability to appeal to people’s emotions. No matter how you view Bacon you have to agree that he was a master at that ability. He demonstrates this ability in every view, whether it be on the side of the natives, colonists or government.
The colonists followed him because he represented what the new world was supposed to mean. A world different from the one they had just left. No more unfounded taxes or oppressive government. They had all wanted a new start and ended up in the same situation as they had just left. Bacon was their chance to get what they had been promised. He represented a true new world and the colonists quickly fell in line behind him. He used his abilities to build an army to follow him. An army that bailed him out many times, an army that was hunted and killed after his death for doing so.
The Natives hated him because he represented the worst kind of colonist. The kind that was ready and able to take away their land, even if they were protected by treaty. He organized the men who were sent to kill them and take away the land that had rightfully been theirs since before the colonists even knew there was a new world. His followers were thought of as malicious and dark hearted. He instilled a fear in them that would cause turmoil between the colonists and the natives for years to come.
Governor Berkley was angry with him, because he was causing a disturbance in the peace he had tried so hard to create in Virginia. Being a governor in a time where the colonies were just beginning to get settled was not an easy job. Berkley had a record to be proud of at the time, and Bacon represented a horrible black mark on that record. He was trying to destroy everything the governor was trying to build.
Nathanial Bacon was a man of many sides. He had a huge influence on many different aspects of the 17th century. For this multidimensionality his memory and legacy are viewed in many conflicting ways. He was a huge historical figure of not only his time but in all that followed him. No matter how you choose to see him, his memory should be respected for the contributions he made.
Common sense tends to dictate that the only act of Bacon's that is not debatable is the fact that he lead a rebellion of poor farmers and the lower class of the colonies against what he thought were the main threats to their welfare. The natives, who were upset with the colonists for intruding on their lands, the government who was refusing to provide protection, or give permission to the colonists to protect themselves. He organized militias, and united these demoralized people against something.
In fact they celebrate the fact that Bacon was their gracious leader. Life was far from easy for the colonists, and no one seemed to care about their safety or well being. The dropping price of tobacco, which was a major export for the settlements, resulted in the same amount of work for a lot less money. Not surprisingly, all of these factors lead to a very volatile situation. The oppression the colonists began to feel from the government, who were implementing more taxes and refusing to protect them from the nearby Indians only added fuel to the fire.
Bacon was the beacon of hope to these people. According to Robert Beverley “In a word, he was everyway qualified to head a giddy and unthinking multitude.” , and this was a role that Bacon accepted and fulfilled to the best of his abilities. He organized and orchestrated a plan to overthrow and undermine the government, as well as formulated a plan to protect the frontiers from native invasion and attack. He took office in the government and did his best to help the people in a cause that he truly cared about. This part of Bacons life is hard to debate. How he carried out his plans are where the true debate begins.
Many colonists assumed that that the Indians that surrounded them were dangerous and wanted them to be eliminated from Virginia. Most of these Indians however lived on treaty protected land. Therefore Governor Berkley and the government were hesitant to attack. This hesitance made the colonists suspicious that Berkley was more sympathetic to the Indians then to his own people. These suspicions were a major factor in Bacons decision to organize militias to march against the Indians, even though the governor did not approve.
This gave colonists, who had never been sympathetic to the natives, justification to kill. Possibly because of the oppression they felt, combined with the dismal conditions, this soon got out of hand. “The [Indians] began and killed one of our men, which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so thick that the groans of men women and children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing could not hinder them from being heard.” This anonymous account paints a clear picture of how many of these battles were fought. The collective short fuse of the colonists, lead to innocent men and women and sometimes even children being killed. Even the SusqueHanoughs, who had been friendly toward the colonists since their landing in America, were not safe from Bacon’s forces. As more and more Indians died at the hands of Bacons men, more and more Indians began to see him as a villainous murderer.
Yet another varying view of Bacon is that of a traitor. This view was chiefly adopted by Governor William Berkley himself. Berkley adopted this view after Bacon defied his direct orders. Before the rebellion, Bacon had requested many times that he be able to lead forces against the Indians with Berkley’s permission. Each time he requested this, Berkley turned him down. Bacon eventually carried out his plans, which infuriated the Governor.
His opinions of Bacon are best condensed in his Declaration against the proceedings of Nathanial Bacon where he states “I am so conscious of human frailty and my own defects, that I will not only acknowledge them, but repent of and amend them, and not, like the rebel Bacon, persist in an error only because I have committed it”. In that same Declaration he also states “I have lived thirty-four years amongst you, as uncorrupt and diligent as ever Governor was; Bacon is a man of two years amongst you, his person and qualities unknown to most of you, and to all men else, by any virtuous action that ever I heard of. And that very action which he boasts of was sickly and foolishly, and, as I am informed, treacherously carried to the dishonor of the English nation; yet in it he lost more men than I did in three years' war”. You can tell from these two quotes that Berkley definitely felt threatened by the power that Bacon had over his people. This is probably why he decided to declare Bacon as a traitor and issue an order for his capture. However, his fears were well founded and he was twice forced out of Jamestown by supporters of the rebellion.
In the end, Bacon died of natural causes and the rebellion died soon after. Supporters were hunted out and killed, but the ideals Bacon implanted in the minds of the colonists lived on. His was the first major rebellion in the new world, and his ideals along with his insistence on the right to bear arms played a major part in the forming of the constitution. This is just another varying view of the Bacon.
As you can see, it is hard for us, who can only relive his story through words in books and secondary retellings, to pick a side. At the same time that I believe that Bacon was nothing short of a murderer who instilled mob mentality into unpredictable minds, I also believe that the ideals that he instilled help in the forming of American ideals even before there was an America. Every side has its evidence to support it. Every side was formed because Nathanial Bacon had a great ability to appeal to people’s emotions. No matter how you view Bacon you have to agree that he was a master at that ability. He demonstrates this ability in every view, whether it be on the side of the natives, colonists or government.
The colonists followed him because he represented what the new world was supposed to mean. A world different from the one they had just left. No more unfounded taxes or oppressive government. They had all wanted a new start and ended up in the same situation as they had just left. Bacon was their chance to get what they had been promised. He represented a true new world and the colonists quickly fell in line behind him. He used his abilities to build an army to follow him. An army that bailed him out many times, an army that was hunted and killed after his death for doing so.
The Natives hated him because he represented the worst kind of colonist. The kind that was ready and able to take away their land, even if they were protected by treaty. He organized the men who were sent to kill them and take away the land that had rightfully been theirs since before the colonists even knew there was a new world. His followers were thought of as malicious and dark hearted. He instilled a fear in them that would cause turmoil between the colonists and the natives for years to come.
Governor Berkley was angry with him, because he was causing a disturbance in the peace he had tried so hard to create in Virginia. Being a governor in a time where the colonies were just beginning to get settled was not an easy job. Berkley had a record to be proud of at the time, and Bacon represented a horrible black mark on that record. He was trying to destroy everything the governor was trying to build.
Nathanial Bacon was a man of many sides. He had a huge influence on many different aspects of the 17th century. For this multidimensionality his memory and legacy are viewed in many conflicting ways. He was a huge historical figure of not only his time but in all that followed him. No matter how you choose to see him, his memory should be respected for the contributions he made.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Essay: Draft One
Bacons Rebellion had many effects on the colonies as well as the future of the United States of America. Someone uneducated in the particulars of Bacons Rebellion might assume that the leader of this important event would be highly respected and regarded as a hero. However those who know a little about the Rebellion know that this is not necessarily true. Nathanial Bacon is viewed in many conflicting ways. As a historical figure, why is Nathanial Bacon viewed in so many conflicting ways? These conflicting ideals are probably due to the how multi-sided Bacon was as a person.
One popular view of Bacon is that of a gracious leader. At that point in history life was far from easy. People were struggling to survive in less than optimal conditions, and this created a lot of short fuses. The oppression the colonists began to feel from the government, who were implementing more taxes and refusing to protect them from the nearby Indians only added to the growing unrest.
Bacon was the beacon of hope to these people. This view of Bacon is best summed up by the Robert Beverley quote “In a word, he was everyway qualified to head a giddy and unthinking multitude.” This was a role that Bacon accepted and fulfilled to the best of his abilities. He organized and orchestrated a plan to overthrow and undermine the government which the frontiersman and farmers were feeling so oppressed by. He took office in the government and did his best to help the people in a cause that he truly cared about. This part of Bacons life is hard to debate. However his actions are the base on which most opinions start to differ.
The colonists believed that the Indians that surrounded them were dangerous and wanted them to be eliminated from Virginia. Most of these Indians however lived on treaty protected land. Therefore Governor Berkley and the government were hesitant to attack. This hesitance made the colonists suspicious that Berkley was more sympathetic to the Indians then to his own people. These suspicions were a major factor in Bacons decision to organize militias to march against the Indians, even though the governor did not approve.
This gave colonists, who had never been sympathetic to the natives, justification to kill. Possibly because of the oppression they felt, combined with the dismal conditions, this soon got out of hand. “The [Indians] began and killed one of our men, which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so thick that the groans of men women and children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing could not hinder them from being heard.” This anonymous account paints a clear picture of how many of these battles were fought. The collective short fuse of the colonists, lead to innocent men and women and sometimes even children being killed. Even the SusqueHanoughs, who had been friendly toward the colonists since their landing in America, were not safe from Bacon’s forces. As more and more Indians died at the hands of Bacons men, more and more Indians began to see him as a villainous murderer.
Yet another varying view of Bacon is that of a traitor. This view was chiefly adopted by Governor William Berkley himself. Berkley adopted this view after Bacon defied his direct orders. Before the rebellion, Bacon had requested many times that he be able to lead forces against the Indians with Berkley’s permission. Each time he requested this, Berkley turned him down. Bacon eventually carried out his plans, which infuriated the Governor.
His opinions of Bacon are best summed up in his Declaration against the proceedings of Nathanial Bacon where he states “I am so conscious of human frailty and my own defects, that I will not only acknowledge them, but repent of and amend them, and not, like the rebel Bacon, persist in an error only because I have committed it”. In that same Declaration he also states “I have lived thirty-four years amongst you, as uncorrupt and diligent as ever Governor was; Bacon is a man of two years amongst you, his person and qualities unknown to most of you, and to all men else, by any virtuous action that ever I heard of. And that very action which he boasts of was sickly and foolishly, and, as I am informed, treacherously carried to the dishonor of the English nation; yet in it he lost more men than I did in three years' war”. You can tell from these two quotes that Berkley definitely felt threatened by the power that Bacon had over his people. This is probably why he decided to declare Bacon as a traitor and issue an order for his capture. However, his fears were well founded and he was twice forced out of Jamestown by supporters of the rebellion.
In the end, Bacon died of natural causes and the rebellion died soon after. Supporters were hunted out and killed, but the ideals Bacon implanted in the minds of the colonists lived on. His was the first major rebellion in the new world, and his ideals along with his insistence on the right to bear arms played a major part in the forming of the constitution. This is just another varying view of the Bacon.
As you can see, it is hard for us, who can only relive his story through words in books and secondary retellings, to pick a side. Every side has its evidence to support it. Every side was formed because Nathanial Bacon had a great ability to appeal to people’s emotions. No matter how you view Bacon you have to agree that he was a master at that ability.
The colonists followed him because he represented what the new world was supposed to mean. A world different from the one they had just left. No more unfounded taxes or oppressive government. They had all wanted a new start and ended up in the same situation as they had just left. Bacon was their chance to get what they had been promised. He represented a true new world and the colonists quickly fell in line behind him.
The Natives hated him because he represented the worst kind of colonist. The kind that was ready and able to take away their land, even if they were protected by treaty. He organized the men who were sent to kill them and take away the land that had rightfully been theirs since before the colonists even knew there was a new world. His followers were thought of as malicious and dark hearted. He instilled a fear in them that would cause turmoil between the colonists and the natives for years to come.
Governor Berkley was angry with him, because he was causing a disturbance in the peace he had tried so hard to create in Virginia. Being a governor in a time where the colonies were just beginning to get settled was not an easy job. Berkley had a record to be proud of at the time, and Bacon represented a horrible black mark on that record. He was trying to destroy everything the governor was trying to build.
Nathanial Bacon was a man of many sides. He had a huge influence on many different aspects of the 17th century. For this multidimensionality his memory and legacy are viewed in many conflicting ways. He was a huge historical figure of not only his time but in all that followed him. No matter how you choose to see him, his memory should be respected for the contributions he made.
One popular view of Bacon is that of a gracious leader. At that point in history life was far from easy. People were struggling to survive in less than optimal conditions, and this created a lot of short fuses. The oppression the colonists began to feel from the government, who were implementing more taxes and refusing to protect them from the nearby Indians only added to the growing unrest.
Bacon was the beacon of hope to these people. This view of Bacon is best summed up by the Robert Beverley quote “In a word, he was everyway qualified to head a giddy and unthinking multitude.” This was a role that Bacon accepted and fulfilled to the best of his abilities. He organized and orchestrated a plan to overthrow and undermine the government which the frontiersman and farmers were feeling so oppressed by. He took office in the government and did his best to help the people in a cause that he truly cared about. This part of Bacons life is hard to debate. However his actions are the base on which most opinions start to differ.
The colonists believed that the Indians that surrounded them were dangerous and wanted them to be eliminated from Virginia. Most of these Indians however lived on treaty protected land. Therefore Governor Berkley and the government were hesitant to attack. This hesitance made the colonists suspicious that Berkley was more sympathetic to the Indians then to his own people. These suspicions were a major factor in Bacons decision to organize militias to march against the Indians, even though the governor did not approve.
This gave colonists, who had never been sympathetic to the natives, justification to kill. Possibly because of the oppression they felt, combined with the dismal conditions, this soon got out of hand. “The [Indians] began and killed one of our men, which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so thick that the groans of men women and children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing could not hinder them from being heard.” This anonymous account paints a clear picture of how many of these battles were fought. The collective short fuse of the colonists, lead to innocent men and women and sometimes even children being killed. Even the SusqueHanoughs, who had been friendly toward the colonists since their landing in America, were not safe from Bacon’s forces. As more and more Indians died at the hands of Bacons men, more and more Indians began to see him as a villainous murderer.
Yet another varying view of Bacon is that of a traitor. This view was chiefly adopted by Governor William Berkley himself. Berkley adopted this view after Bacon defied his direct orders. Before the rebellion, Bacon had requested many times that he be able to lead forces against the Indians with Berkley’s permission. Each time he requested this, Berkley turned him down. Bacon eventually carried out his plans, which infuriated the Governor.
His opinions of Bacon are best summed up in his Declaration against the proceedings of Nathanial Bacon where he states “I am so conscious of human frailty and my own defects, that I will not only acknowledge them, but repent of and amend them, and not, like the rebel Bacon, persist in an error only because I have committed it”. In that same Declaration he also states “I have lived thirty-four years amongst you, as uncorrupt and diligent as ever Governor was; Bacon is a man of two years amongst you, his person and qualities unknown to most of you, and to all men else, by any virtuous action that ever I heard of. And that very action which he boasts of was sickly and foolishly, and, as I am informed, treacherously carried to the dishonor of the English nation; yet in it he lost more men than I did in three years' war”. You can tell from these two quotes that Berkley definitely felt threatened by the power that Bacon had over his people. This is probably why he decided to declare Bacon as a traitor and issue an order for his capture. However, his fears were well founded and he was twice forced out of Jamestown by supporters of the rebellion.
In the end, Bacon died of natural causes and the rebellion died soon after. Supporters were hunted out and killed, but the ideals Bacon implanted in the minds of the colonists lived on. His was the first major rebellion in the new world, and his ideals along with his insistence on the right to bear arms played a major part in the forming of the constitution. This is just another varying view of the Bacon.
As you can see, it is hard for us, who can only relive his story through words in books and secondary retellings, to pick a side. Every side has its evidence to support it. Every side was formed because Nathanial Bacon had a great ability to appeal to people’s emotions. No matter how you view Bacon you have to agree that he was a master at that ability.
The colonists followed him because he represented what the new world was supposed to mean. A world different from the one they had just left. No more unfounded taxes or oppressive government. They had all wanted a new start and ended up in the same situation as they had just left. Bacon was their chance to get what they had been promised. He represented a true new world and the colonists quickly fell in line behind him.
The Natives hated him because he represented the worst kind of colonist. The kind that was ready and able to take away their land, even if they were protected by treaty. He organized the men who were sent to kill them and take away the land that had rightfully been theirs since before the colonists even knew there was a new world. His followers were thought of as malicious and dark hearted. He instilled a fear in them that would cause turmoil between the colonists and the natives for years to come.
Governor Berkley was angry with him, because he was causing a disturbance in the peace he had tried so hard to create in Virginia. Being a governor in a time where the colonies were just beginning to get settled was not an easy job. Berkley had a record to be proud of at the time, and Bacon represented a horrible black mark on that record. He was trying to destroy everything the governor was trying to build.
Nathanial Bacon was a man of many sides. He had a huge influence on many different aspects of the 17th century. For this multidimensionality his memory and legacy are viewed in many conflicting ways. He was a huge historical figure of not only his time but in all that followed him. No matter how you choose to see him, his memory should be respected for the contributions he made.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Outline Edit 3
Hypothesis: As a historical figure, why is Nathanial Bacon viewed in so many conflicting ways?
Outline:
I (They Say): Bacon United Colonists against a cause
In a time where everyone was living through hard times and felt oppressed by those around them, Nathanial Bacon was a beacon of hope.
Bacon did what he thought was necessary in order to keep the people of Virginia safe against the threat he believed to be most pressing.
Robert Beverly Doc 8: “To minds already full of discontent, made people ready to vent all their resentment against the poor Indians”
He was a unitary among men who desperately wanted to be united against something. The early Virginians lived through incredibly harsh times, and were looking for a vent for all their aggressions.
Robert Beverly Doc 11 “In a word, he was everyway qualified to head a giddy and unthinking multitude.”
II(They Say): The Indians became Scapegoats for the colonists.
A)After and during Bacons Rebellion many colonists were protecting themselves from the Indians which they viewed as a danger to them.
B)Unknown Author Doc 21 “The [Indians] began and killed on of our men, which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so thick that the groans of men women and children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing could not hinder them from being heard.”
C)This readiness for protection leads to a lot of innocents being killed. For this sudden increase in murders the Indians laid blame on the man who started the revolution Nathanial Bacon.
D)Thomas Mathews Doc 3: “Shott fourteen before [a friendly] Indian came, who with both hands shook him (Friendly)by on arm saying Susquehanougs Neoughs [I.E. these are Susquehanough our friends] and fled, whereupon [the col.] ran amongst hi s men crying out “For the lords sake shoot no more these are our friends the Susque-Hanoughs”.”
III (They Say): After Bacon defied the government he was labeled as a traitor by William Berkley.
A)After Bacon starting organizing malitias that only he would have control over, Berkley called for his capture and labeled him a rebel.”
B)A huge rally of Rebellion supporters may have influenced the governor’s decision to let Bacon go with only an apology.
C)Elizabeth Bacon Letter to Sister: “But the Governor were so much the Indians’ friend and our enemy that he sent the Indians word that Mr. Bacon was out against them that they might save themselves”
D)As soon as Bacon was free he began raiding Native villages. This action infuriated the governor who already was less than happy with Bacon.
1)NEED MORE SOURCES TO SUPPORT THIS STILL.
VI(I say): Bacon’s ideals helped shaped America in many ways but his actions hindered us more.
A) Bacon’s rebellion instilled the ideals of rebellion and the right to freedom in the colonists, but the immediate effects of the rebellion were dismal.
B) Unknown Author Document 6 “Which after the expense of a grate deale of time and charge, being finished came short of designed ends”
C) Many people in history have made similar changes to the way that we think, but have done so without the death of so many innocent lives to shroud over them.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Since Bacon was viewed in so many different ways, who was he really?
Hypothesis: Since Bacon was viewed in so many different ways, who was he really?
Outline:
Body
I(They Say). Bacon united the colonists against a cause
---A) Nathanial Bacon Doc 12 “I resolved to march out upon the Enemy with which volunteers I could ten get, but by so doing found that I not only lost the governors favor, but exposed my very life and fortune at home as well as abroad… but considering the necessity, I still proceeded.”
------1)Bacon did what he thought was necessary.
---B) Robert Beverly Doc 8 ”To minds already full of discontent, made people ready to vent all their resentment against the poor Indians”
------1)He was unitary among men.
---C) Robert Beverly Doc 11 “In a word, he was everyway qualified to head a giddy and unthinking Multitude”
II(They Say). The Indians became scapegoats for the Colonists
---A) Unknown Author Doc 21 “The [Indians] began and killed on of our men, which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so think that the groans of men women and children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing, could not hinder them from being heard.”
------1)The colonists were ready and able to protect themselves.
---B) A true narrative of the Late rebellion in Virginia, By the Royal Commissioners Document 4 “The Indians sent out 5 greate men to Treate of Peace, who were not permitted to return to the Fort, but being kept Prisoners some tyme were at last murdered by the English.”
------1)Indians felt they often got the short end of most deals
---C) Thomas Mathews Doc 3 “Shott fourteen before [a friendly] Indian came, who with both hands shook him (friendly) by on arm saying Susquehanougs Neoughs [i.e. these are Susquehannaugh or friends] and fled, whereupon [the Col.] ran amongst his men, crying out “For the lords sake shoot no more these are our friends the Susque-hanoughs”.”
------1)Even "friendly" Indians were at risk
III (I Say). Bacons Ideals helped America in many ways but his actions hindered us more.
---A) Unknown Author Document 6 "Which after the expense of a grate deale of time and
charge, being finished, came short of the designed ends"
------1) Many people have been able to make points with much more succesfull ends.
Works Cited
I. So far all my references are coming from papers you have given me, but as I keep progressing in this assignment I am sure I will add more.
Outline:
Body
I(They Say). Bacon united the colonists against a cause
---A) Nathanial Bacon Doc 12 “I resolved to march out upon the Enemy with which volunteers I could ten get, but by so doing found that I not only lost the governors favor, but exposed my very life and fortune at home as well as abroad… but considering the necessity, I still proceeded.”
------1)Bacon did what he thought was necessary.
---B) Robert Beverly Doc 8 ”To minds already full of discontent, made people ready to vent all their resentment against the poor Indians”
------1)He was unitary among men.
---C) Robert Beverly Doc 11 “In a word, he was everyway qualified to head a giddy and unthinking Multitude”
II(They Say). The Indians became scapegoats for the Colonists
---A) Unknown Author Doc 21 “The [Indians] began and killed on of our men, which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so think that the groans of men women and children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing, could not hinder them from being heard.”
------1)The colonists were ready and able to protect themselves.
---B) A true narrative of the Late rebellion in Virginia, By the Royal Commissioners Document 4 “The Indians sent out 5 greate men to Treate of Peace, who were not permitted to return to the Fort, but being kept Prisoners some tyme were at last murdered by the English.”
------1)Indians felt they often got the short end of most deals
---C) Thomas Mathews Doc 3 “Shott fourteen before [a friendly] Indian came, who with both hands shook him (friendly) by on arm saying Susquehanougs Neoughs [i.e. these are Susquehannaugh or friends] and fled, whereupon [the Col.] ran amongst his men, crying out “For the lords sake shoot no more these are our friends the Susque-hanoughs”.”
------1)Even "friendly" Indians were at risk
III (I Say). Bacons Ideals helped America in many ways but his actions hindered us more.
---A) Unknown Author Document 6 "Which after the expense of a grate deale of time and
charge, being finished, came short of the designed ends"
------1) Many people have been able to make points with much more succesfull ends.
Works Cited
I. So far all my references are coming from papers you have given me, but as I keep progressing in this assignment I am sure I will add more.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Nathanial Bacon was labeled a hero, traitor and a villain
Hypothesis: Since Bacon was viewed in so many different ways, who was he really?
Thesis: Nathanial Bacon can be called many things, the most fitting of which is villain..
Outline:
II. Background Info
A. In 1676 Nathanial Bacon led a rebellion against the Virginian Government
B. The Government refused to protect them from the nearby Indians
C. The rebellion took it upon themselves to protect their land from these hostile Indians
D. Because of these actions Nathanial Bacon has been called many things
III. Thesis
A. Nathanial Bacon can be called many things, the most fitting of which is villain.
IV. Body
A. Bacon united the colonists against a cause
1) NB Doc 12 “I resolved to march out upon the Enemy with which volunteers I could ten get, but by so doing found that I not only lost the governors favor, but exposed my very life and fortune at home as well as abroad… but considering the necessity, I still proceeded.” – Bacon did what he thought was necessary but it could have been done in a much less deadly manner.
2) RB Doc 8”To minds already full of discontent, made people ready to vent all their resentment against the poor Indians” – He was unitary among men who desperately wanted to be united against something.
3) RB Doc 11 “In a word, he was everyway qualified to head a giddy and unthinking Multitude”
B. The Indians became scapegoats for the Colonists
1) UA Doc 21 “The [Indians] began and killed on of our men, which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so think that the groans of men women and children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing, could not hinder them from being heard.” – The colonists were not at all hesitant about killing Natives. They felt oppressed and they wanted to be in control of something.
2) Doc 4 “The Indians sent out 5 greate men to Treate of Peace, who were not permitted to return to the Fort, but being kept Prisoners some tyme were at last murdered by the English.” – Even when the Indians believed they were going to be getting something out of their relations they were killed.
3) TM Doc 3 “Shott fourteen before [a friendly] Indian came, who with both hands shook him (friendly) by on arm saying Susquehanougs Neoughs [i.e. these are Susquehannaugh or friends] and fled, whereupon [the Col.] ran amongst his men, crying out “For the lords sake shoot no more these are our friends the Susque-hanoughs”.” – Colonists shot and killed these people without even caring about whether or not they were “friendly”
V. My sources
A. The sources that I am choosing to use are needed to help convey my point
B. I agree that Bacon’s rebellion probably was a key factor leading to the American Revolt. But I think that the rebellion could have been run by better men.
C. There are so many ways that Bacons actions can be interpreted that it is hard to pick a side, but of all the documents I have read the majority do not paint his or the other settlers actions as heroic.
VII: Works Cited
A. So far all my references are coming from papers you have given me, but as I keep progressing in this assignment I am sure I will add more.
Thesis: Nathanial Bacon can be called many things, the most fitting of which is villain..
Outline:
II. Background Info
A. In 1676 Nathanial Bacon led a rebellion against the Virginian Government
B. The Government refused to protect them from the nearby Indians
C. The rebellion took it upon themselves to protect their land from these hostile Indians
D. Because of these actions Nathanial Bacon has been called many things
III. Thesis
A. Nathanial Bacon can be called many things, the most fitting of which is villain.
IV. Body
A. Bacon united the colonists against a cause
1) NB Doc 12 “I resolved to march out upon the Enemy with which volunteers I could ten get, but by so doing found that I not only lost the governors favor, but exposed my very life and fortune at home as well as abroad… but considering the necessity, I still proceeded.” – Bacon did what he thought was necessary but it could have been done in a much less deadly manner.
2) RB Doc 8”To minds already full of discontent, made people ready to vent all their resentment against the poor Indians” – He was unitary among men who desperately wanted to be united against something.
3) RB Doc 11 “In a word, he was everyway qualified to head a giddy and unthinking Multitude”
B. The Indians became scapegoats for the Colonists
1) UA Doc 21 “The [Indians] began and killed on of our men, which we quickly repaid them, firing in at all their men (inside the fort) so think that the groans of men women and children were so loud, that with all their howling and singing, could not hinder them from being heard.” – The colonists were not at all hesitant about killing Natives. They felt oppressed and they wanted to be in control of something.
2) Doc 4 “The Indians sent out 5 greate men to Treate of Peace, who were not permitted to return to the Fort, but being kept Prisoners some tyme were at last murdered by the English.” – Even when the Indians believed they were going to be getting something out of their relations they were killed.
3) TM Doc 3 “Shott fourteen before [a friendly] Indian came, who with both hands shook him (friendly) by on arm saying Susquehanougs Neoughs [i.e. these are Susquehannaugh or friends] and fled, whereupon [the Col.] ran amongst his men, crying out “For the lords sake shoot no more these are our friends the Susque-hanoughs”.” – Colonists shot and killed these people without even caring about whether or not they were “friendly”
V. My sources
A. The sources that I am choosing to use are needed to help convey my point
B. I agree that Bacon’s rebellion probably was a key factor leading to the American Revolt. But I think that the rebellion could have been run by better men.
C. There are so many ways that Bacons actions can be interpreted that it is hard to pick a side, but of all the documents I have read the majority do not paint his or the other settlers actions as heroic.
VII: Works Cited
A. So far all my references are coming from papers you have given me, but as I keep progressing in this assignment I am sure I will add more.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
JSTOR Experience
I used my JSTOR research to help me get a better understanding of both sides of the Rebellion, in the form of the Colonists and Indians. While I did have to do a lot of reading to get to information I could actually use in my writing, I think it paid off in the end. I feel that I have a better understanding of both sides, which will help me write a better paper.
In the future I will probably be more specific in what I search for, because I did have to do a lot of skimming to get to the info I wanted. Other than that I believe that I helped myself on the way to writing a better paper on Bacon's Rebellion
In the future I will probably be more specific in what I search for, because I did have to do a lot of skimming to get to the info I wanted. Other than that I believe that I helped myself on the way to writing a better paper on Bacon's Rebellion
Arbella Sermon
My Response's to John Winthrop's Arbella Sermon.
Quote 1:
“The definition which the scripture gives us of love is this: ‘Love is the bond of perfection.’ [I]t is a bond or ligament. . . . There is no body but consists of parts and that which each part so contiguous to others as thereby they do mutually participate with each other, both in strength and infirmity, in pleasure and pain. . . . Christ and his church make one body. The several parts of this body, considered apart before they were united, were disproportionate and as much disordering as so many contrary qualities or elements, [however, when united], it is become the most perfect and best proportioned body in the world[.]”
Group Questions
For Winthrop, what is the benefit of a well coordinated (social, spiritual, political) body?
Everyone is united together, agreeing on the same views.
Its not perfection but it is close, people can work in harmony
Its easier to discuss when every shares the same views
Why might the metaphor of the body make sense to Winthrop’s audience?
We all have bodies and so we all we all know that is one part isn't working it effects the rest of the bodies ability
All the parts have to work together for the body to work, and so do these people
How might this union of separate parts create a genuine COMMONWEALTH?
Because with everyone sharing the same ideals it is easier than everyone disagreeing. This creates a body with common objectives, or A COMMONWEALTH
Quote 2
“Whatsoever we did or ought to have done when we lived in England, the same must we do, and more also, where we go.”
Group Questions
What is in the word new? What did it mean to name the colony New England? Why not come up with some kind of name that denoted complete newness and separation from the Old World?
The word new, to me represents how the puritans wanted to keep some of the same structure of England, but without all the stuff they were trying to escape i.e. mean government
Quote 3
“Thus stands the cause between God and us. We are entered into covenant with him for this work. We have taken out a commission, the Lord hath given us leave to draw our own articles. We have professed to enterprise these actions . . . . Now if the Lord shall please to hear us, and bring us in peace to the place we desire, then hath he ratified this covenant and sealed our commission, [and] will expect a strict performance of the articles contained in it."
Group Questions
How did the Puritans, and Winthrop, view their charter for colonization as a spiritual mandate to purify the world of Christendom (or at least the Church of England)?
I believe that the Puritans and Winthrop viewed their charter as a spiritual mandate to purify the Christian world because that is how they were taught. They believed that their mission in life was to purify the Christian faith, and this charter to all these natives that had never before heard the word, were a great way for them to fulfill their duties
Quote 4
“[W]hen he shall make us a praise and glory that men shall say of succeeding [colonies], ‘the Lord make it like that of New England.’ For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us[.]"
Group Questions
How did Winthrop view the MA Bay Co. as an example for future colonists and colonial efforts?
If while they were they could convert people and live together successfully, others might want to follow in their path.
What does it mean, or what did Winthrop mean, to be a “city upon a hill”?
They believed that their colony would be successful through god, and they would be an example for all to come after them, i.e. A city upon a hill for everyone to admire from below.
Quote 1:
“The definition which the scripture gives us of love is this: ‘Love is the bond of perfection.’ [I]t is a bond or ligament. . . . There is no body but consists of parts and that which each part so contiguous to others as thereby they do mutually participate with each other, both in strength and infirmity, in pleasure and pain. . . . Christ and his church make one body. The several parts of this body, considered apart before they were united, were disproportionate and as much disordering as so many contrary qualities or elements, [however, when united], it is become the most perfect and best proportioned body in the world[.]”
Group Questions
For Winthrop, what is the benefit of a well coordinated (social, spiritual, political) body?
Everyone is united together, agreeing on the same views.
Its not perfection but it is close, people can work in harmony
Its easier to discuss when every shares the same views
Why might the metaphor of the body make sense to Winthrop’s audience?
We all have bodies and so we all we all know that is one part isn't working it effects the rest of the bodies ability
All the parts have to work together for the body to work, and so do these people
How might this union of separate parts create a genuine COMMONWEALTH?
Because with everyone sharing the same ideals it is easier than everyone disagreeing. This creates a body with common objectives, or A COMMONWEALTH
Quote 2
“Whatsoever we did or ought to have done when we lived in England, the same must we do, and more also, where we go.”
Group Questions
What is in the word new? What did it mean to name the colony New England? Why not come up with some kind of name that denoted complete newness and separation from the Old World?
The word new, to me represents how the puritans wanted to keep some of the same structure of England, but without all the stuff they were trying to escape i.e. mean government
Quote 3
“Thus stands the cause between God and us. We are entered into covenant with him for this work. We have taken out a commission, the Lord hath given us leave to draw our own articles. We have professed to enterprise these actions . . . . Now if the Lord shall please to hear us, and bring us in peace to the place we desire, then hath he ratified this covenant and sealed our commission, [and] will expect a strict performance of the articles contained in it."
Group Questions
How did the Puritans, and Winthrop, view their charter for colonization as a spiritual mandate to purify the world of Christendom (or at least the Church of England)?
I believe that the Puritans and Winthrop viewed their charter as a spiritual mandate to purify the Christian world because that is how they were taught. They believed that their mission in life was to purify the Christian faith, and this charter to all these natives that had never before heard the word, were a great way for them to fulfill their duties
Quote 4
“[W]hen he shall make us a praise and glory that men shall say of succeeding [colonies], ‘the Lord make it like that of New England.’ For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us[.]"
Group Questions
How did Winthrop view the MA Bay Co. as an example for future colonists and colonial efforts?
If while they were they could convert people and live together successfully, others might want to follow in their path.
What does it mean, or what did Winthrop mean, to be a “city upon a hill”?
They believed that their colony would be successful through god, and they would be an example for all to come after them, i.e. A city upon a hill for everyone to admire from below.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
They Say 2: Bacons Rebellion
It is often said that for leading Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, Nathanial Bacon is a hero. A great man who overthrew an oppressive government for the rights of the working class man. However many well respected authors paint him in a much different light. Robert Berverly states that "In a word he was every way qualified to head a giddy and unthinking multitude"
Beverely also states that "Four things may be reckoned to have been the main ingredients towards this intestine commotion." He believes that the combination of tobaccos low prices, the "splintering of the colony", the restraints that parliment laid on their shipping of tobacco, (i.e. they could only export to England), and lastly the Natives that the colonists felt threatened by.
Many agree, that the spark that finally started the fire, was the Virginian government's unwillingness to provide protection for the colonists from the Indians. This was the last straw on the back of the colonists who "to minds already full of discontent, made people ready to vent all their resentment against the poor Indians.".
Beverely also states that "Four things may be reckoned to have been the main ingredients towards this intestine commotion." He believes that the combination of tobaccos low prices, the "splintering of the colony", the restraints that parliment laid on their shipping of tobacco, (i.e. they could only export to England), and lastly the Natives that the colonists felt threatened by.
Many agree, that the spark that finally started the fire, was the Virginian government's unwillingness to provide protection for the colonists from the Indians. This was the last straw on the back of the colonists who "to minds already full of discontent, made people ready to vent all their resentment against the poor Indians.".
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
1) To gain a broad perspective relative to the different types of colleges, campuses, and programs, provide the name and a brief description of the following: (Do not hesitate to explore colleges outside the Northwest states, do not use the same college twice, and do not simply list information available on their website.) A public college: span >Montana Tech College of the University of Montana - This was a school that I really wanted to talk to, but both times I went booth no one was there. I was interested in their communications programs, and after previous college fairs I had been impressed with this school. It is located in Butte Montana, and has awesome employment rate for its graduates.
A private college:
Academy of Art University is located San Francisco California, and I am interested in their Advertising program. I really like the fact that it is still run by the same family that started the university and how willing they were to give out information about themselves.
Academy of Art University is located San Francisco California, and I am interested in their Advertising program. I really like the fact that it is still run by the same family that started the university and how willing they were to give out information about themselves.
A rural college:
Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg Washington, and I am interested in their Business Administration program. This program is run through the College of Business. I have had a few friends whose older siblings have attended CWU and truly enjoyed that experience so I thought it would be worth checking out.
A traditional large university:
Oregon State University was the one school whose representative really made me want to come to their school. I was interested in their marketing program, which I learned is actually a part of their business administration degree. It’s located in Corvallis Oregon, which is not too far, but just far enough away from home.
Oregon State University was the one school whose representative really made me want to come to their school. I was interested in their marketing program, which I learned is actually a part of their business administration degree. It’s located in Corvallis Oregon, which is not too far, but just far enough away from home.
A small alternative college:
Cornish College of the Arts is located in Seattle, and I was interested in its Visual Communication Design program. This was my “home” school, or my option if I want to stay closer to home.
2) Select a college major that you might be interested in pursuing. (Marketing/Management) Find three colleges that are known to offer quality programs in that major. You may choose only one of the three colleges from within the state of Washington . Briefly describe what impressed you about each of these colleges. Then finally, describe how your overall educational experience might differ if you were to choose one college over the others. In making your comparisons, be sure to consider some the issues raised in the “suggested questions” above. (You probably should do some research on this before attending the Fair)
The three colleges I chose were Oregon State University, Bethel University in St. Paul Minnesota, and Central Washington University.
Central defiantly seemed to be the most organized of all the schools I visited at the college fair. They had multiple reps ready to answer anyone’s questions, and people seemed to really know about the programs rather than just pointing at a brochure.
Oregon State University also seemed to well organized, but their rep knew less about the program and as a result so do I.
Bethel University was the farthest school I looked at, and I was impressed by them as well. Though there was only one rep present she was able to answer my questions and explain about how my degree would be in business with a marketing emphasis if I was to go into my planned program.
I think that out of the three Bethel would probably be the best experience for me. OSU is a research school, and since I would not be in a program that would produce a lot of research I would be afraid I was getting the short end of the stick. Central is a great school, but I think that I want a true college experience and I don’t think I can get that and stay in the state. I’ve barely ever left this state, so college is my chance to broaden my horizons and I don’t want to pass that up.
3) Attend at least one of the workshops during your time at the Fair. Briefly describe the content of the workshop and evaluate the information received.
I attended the preparing a successful admissions packet workshop while at the college fair and I am glad I did. I got a lot of great information about what to do, and what not to do in my admissions packet.
One of the best pieces of information I think I got was not to overwrite, or exceed what they ask for. When admissions officers are reading who knows how many applications a day, no one wants to read an 8 page paper with 12 letters of recommendation when all that was asked for was 2 pages and 2 letters. You’re better off if you write something effective which will be read, then to ramble and be skimmed. Another piece of information I hadn’t thought of was telling them something they don’t have access to knowing. It they want to know where we grew up and where we went to school, they can look that up easily. Instead share something that only you have experienced or only you know, something that you have that that school possibly doesn’t have a lot of.
Overall I think it was worth my time and I got a lot of useful information that I will be able to use in the future.
4) Write a personal evaluation of your experience of attending the National College Fair. Share whatever thoughts you have, but be sure to include a discussion of the following:
§ What information was the most useful?
§ What questions are still unanswered?
§ What should now be included in the next phase of your educational and career planning process?
I think my time at the National College fair was time well spent. Still being unsure about what I want to major in, this was a chance for me to see all the different options I have in front of me. There are so many diverse schools out there, and I’m sure more than a few will meet my needs.
My time in my workshop was also time well spent, because I learned a lot of useful information that now seems obvious but I now know are very important when I am going through the admissions process. I also heard from a lot of the schools I visited information that I had not previously known about their schools. I also became disinterested in a few schools who seemed to care less that I had questions and where just there to hand out brochures.
All the information that I learned will help me narrow down my college search as well as my ongoing search for a major. Information from the workshop will help me prepare for admissions as well as all the other factors that go into applying including the SAT’s.
Cornish College of the Arts is located in Seattle, and I was interested in its Visual Communication Design program. This was my “home” school, or my option if I want to stay closer to home.
2) Select a college major that you might be interested in pursuing. (Marketing/Management) Find three colleges that are known to offer quality programs in that major. You may choose only one of the three colleges from within the state of Washington . Briefly describe what impressed you about each of these colleges. Then finally, describe how your overall educational experience might differ if you were to choose one college over the others. In making your comparisons, be sure to consider some the issues raised in the “suggested questions” above. (You probably should do some research on this before attending the Fair)
The three colleges I chose were Oregon State University, Bethel University in St. Paul Minnesota, and Central Washington University.
Central defiantly seemed to be the most organized of all the schools I visited at the college fair. They had multiple reps ready to answer anyone’s questions, and people seemed to really know about the programs rather than just pointing at a brochure.
Oregon State University also seemed to well organized, but their rep knew less about the program and as a result so do I.
Bethel University was the farthest school I looked at, and I was impressed by them as well. Though there was only one rep present she was able to answer my questions and explain about how my degree would be in business with a marketing emphasis if I was to go into my planned program.
I think that out of the three Bethel would probably be the best experience for me. OSU is a research school, and since I would not be in a program that would produce a lot of research I would be afraid I was getting the short end of the stick. Central is a great school, but I think that I want a true college experience and I don’t think I can get that and stay in the state. I’ve barely ever left this state, so college is my chance to broaden my horizons and I don’t want to pass that up.
3) Attend at least one of the workshops during your time at the Fair. Briefly describe the content of the workshop and evaluate the information received.
I attended the preparing a successful admissions packet workshop while at the college fair and I am glad I did. I got a lot of great information about what to do, and what not to do in my admissions packet.
One of the best pieces of information I think I got was not to overwrite, or exceed what they ask for. When admissions officers are reading who knows how many applications a day, no one wants to read an 8 page paper with 12 letters of recommendation when all that was asked for was 2 pages and 2 letters. You’re better off if you write something effective which will be read, then to ramble and be skimmed. Another piece of information I hadn’t thought of was telling them something they don’t have access to knowing. It they want to know where we grew up and where we went to school, they can look that up easily. Instead share something that only you have experienced or only you know, something that you have that that school possibly doesn’t have a lot of.
Overall I think it was worth my time and I got a lot of useful information that I will be able to use in the future.
4) Write a personal evaluation of your experience of attending the National College Fair. Share whatever thoughts you have, but be sure to include a discussion of the following:
§ What information was the most useful?
§ What questions are still unanswered?
§ What should now be included in the next phase of your educational and career planning process?
I think my time at the National College fair was time well spent. Still being unsure about what I want to major in, this was a chance for me to see all the different options I have in front of me. There are so many diverse schools out there, and I’m sure more than a few will meet my needs.
My time in my workshop was also time well spent, because I learned a lot of useful information that now seems obvious but I now know are very important when I am going through the admissions process. I also heard from a lot of the schools I visited information that I had not previously known about their schools. I also became disinterested in a few schools who seemed to care less that I had questions and where just there to hand out brochures.
All the information that I learned will help me narrow down my college search as well as my ongoing search for a major. Information from the workshop will help me prepare for admissions as well as all the other factors that go into applying including the SAT’s.
They Say; Bacons Rebellion
It is often said that for leading Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, Nathanial Bacon is a hero. A great man who overthrew an oppressive government for the rights of the working class man. However many well respected authors paint him in a much different light. Michael Puglisi states his actions as "He was providing a release for the colonists' frustrations; but the army never marched against the colony's real enemies"
In 1676 Nathanial Bacon led a rebellion against two of these threats. The natives, who were upset because the colonists were moving in on the land promised to them, and the upper class, who continuted to raise taxes on the farmers, while they enjoyed great riches. As the fear of Indians grew within the colony, colonists began "taking their arms into the Fields, and the Setting Centinels", because the government refuse to provide the protection they needed.
This only further sparked the already short fuse of the colonists. This unrest lead to Bacon "arose to lead an extra-legal band of over 500 men" against both the government and the surrounding Pamunkey Indians who had never been hostile towards the colonists.
As for the rebellion versus the Virginian government, it was squashed very quickly. Once Bacon died of disease, his followers were still presued by the governement and killed for their rebellion.
In 1676 Nathanial Bacon led a rebellion against two of these threats. The natives, who were upset because the colonists were moving in on the land promised to them, and the upper class, who continuted to raise taxes on the farmers, while they enjoyed great riches. As the fear of Indians grew within the colony, colonists began "taking their arms into the Fields, and the Setting Centinels", because the government refuse to provide the protection they needed.
This only further sparked the already short fuse of the colonists. This unrest lead to Bacon "arose to lead an extra-legal band of over 500 men" against both the government and the surrounding Pamunkey Indians who had never been hostile towards the colonists.
As for the rebellion versus the Virginian government, it was squashed very quickly. Once Bacon died of disease, his followers were still presued by the governement and killed for their rebellion.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Wiki Edit part 1 - Group 6
Bacon's Rebellion was an uprising in 1676 in the Virginia Colony, led by Nathaniel Bacon. It was the first rebellion in the American colonies in which discontented frontiersmen took part.The uprising was a protest against the governor of Virginia, William Berkeley.
Bacon's Rebellion was the result of discontent among back-country farmers against corruption in the government. Rather than adhere to the law, they chose to push it aside.
Historians have pointed out that one of the most important reforms made during Bacon's government was the recognition of the right to keep and bear arms, so that the common man could defend himself from hostile Indians but also to oppose a despotic regime. Miller suggests it was Bacon's Rebellion that may have served as one of the motives for later colonists' insistence for the right to bear arms. Historian Stephen Saunders Webb suggests that Bacon's Rebellion was a revolution, with roots in the English Civil War and with consequences including the American Revolutionary War.
It was largely the indentured servants and poor farmers (most of whom were former indentured black servants or their descendants) who rebelled. Africans were often brought as indentured servants, becoming free after serving their term of labor. Indentured servants from Europe continued to play a role in Virginia after the rebellion. New Virginia laws made slavery lifelong and a status inherited by one's children, creating a racially based class system with Africans at the bottom. Even the poorest European indentured servants were above them. This broke the common interest between the poor English and Africans of Virginia which had existed during Bacon's Rebellion.
Bacon's Rebellion was the result of discontent among back-country farmers against corruption in the government. Rather than adhere to the law, they chose to push it aside.
Historians have pointed out that one of the most important reforms made during Bacon's government was the recognition of the right to keep and bear arms, so that the common man could defend himself from hostile Indians but also to oppose a despotic regime. Miller suggests it was Bacon's Rebellion that may have served as one of the motives for later colonists' insistence for the right to bear arms. Historian Stephen Saunders Webb suggests that Bacon's Rebellion was a revolution, with roots in the English Civil War and with consequences including the American Revolutionary War.
It was largely the indentured servants and poor farmers (most of whom were former indentured black servants or their descendants) who rebelled. Africans were often brought as indentured servants, becoming free after serving their term of labor. Indentured servants from Europe continued to play a role in Virginia after the rebellion. New Virginia laws made slavery lifelong and a status inherited by one's children, creating a racially based class system with Africans at the bottom. Even the poorest European indentured servants were above them. This broke the common interest between the poor English and Africans of Virginia which had existed during Bacon's Rebellion.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
American Tobacco and European Consumers
After the first few tough years the early Chesapeake settlers caught a break in the form of tobacco. The only tobacco that had ever been imported to Europe was small amounts brought home by the Spanish settlers. Since so little was known about tobaccos negative effects, many people scrambled to get their hands on this new product. It soon became a highly sought after product in Europe, breathing life into the stumbling economy in the colonies. Once they were able to grow and import more tobacco, more people were able to afford it. And as we all know, most people who use tobacco become addicted. Now there were large amounts of Europeans who "needed" something that only the settlers could provide them. The tobacco boom, followed up closely by sugar, coffee, and chocolate caused a huge rise in the "New World" economy as well as the number of addicted Europeans.
Political Economy of the Body
“[T]he body is . . . directly involved in a political field; power relations have an immediate hold upon it; they invest it, mark it, train it, torture it, force it to carry out tasks, to perform ceremonies, to emit signs.” (25)
For me this quote defiantly showed me a point of view that I have never considered. That humans (what interpret the meaning of "The Body" to mean) are just as much a part of the economy as anything else. Especially in the time of slavery, when this was written I believe this was true, but even still today. While an increasing number of jobs can be done with computers, and robot technology, a vast majority still require humans in some way shape or form. This quote illustrates how this has been true since the beginning of the first colonies of America, still to this day.
“[I]t is largely as a force of production that the body is invested with relations of power and domination; but, on the other hand, its constitution as labour power is possible only if it is caught up in a system of subjection . . . the body becomes a useful force only if it is both a productive body and a subjected body.” (26)
This quote illustrates (at least to me) how the human race is willing to exploit so many different things to get the desired end result. We are willing to use any resource to its limit, as long as the end justifies the means. While this is not true of all humans, it is shockingly large shadow over our race as a whole. The quote "the body becomes a useful force only if it is both a productive body and a subjected body" also shows how greed was a major player in the 17 century. That this can be written in such a general sense, shows how badly the indentured servants and slaves of that time were treated.
“In the darkest region of the political field the condemned man represents the symmetrical , inverted figure of the king.” (29)
This quote also shines new light on another point of view that I have never thought of before. The idea that as a race we are all in some way symetrical, but at the same time can be so different. Especially in the period this was written, you were either rich, or dirt poor. There was little to no "happy medium". And while there was, and is still such a stark contrast in the people of the world, we are all in some way still connected to eachother.
For me this quote defiantly showed me a point of view that I have never considered. That humans (what interpret the meaning of "The Body" to mean) are just as much a part of the economy as anything else. Especially in the time of slavery, when this was written I believe this was true, but even still today. While an increasing number of jobs can be done with computers, and robot technology, a vast majority still require humans in some way shape or form. This quote illustrates how this has been true since the beginning of the first colonies of America, still to this day.
“[I]t is largely as a force of production that the body is invested with relations of power and domination; but, on the other hand, its constitution as labour power is possible only if it is caught up in a system of subjection . . . the body becomes a useful force only if it is both a productive body and a subjected body.” (26)
This quote illustrates (at least to me) how the human race is willing to exploit so many different things to get the desired end result. We are willing to use any resource to its limit, as long as the end justifies the means. While this is not true of all humans, it is shockingly large shadow over our race as a whole. The quote "the body becomes a useful force only if it is both a productive body and a subjected body" also shows how greed was a major player in the 17 century. That this can be written in such a general sense, shows how badly the indentured servants and slaves of that time were treated.
“In the darkest region of the political field the condemned man represents the symmetrical , inverted figure of the king.” (29)
This quote also shines new light on another point of view that I have never thought of before. The idea that as a race we are all in some way symetrical, but at the same time can be so different. Especially in the period this was written, you were either rich, or dirt poor. There was little to no "happy medium". And while there was, and is still such a stark contrast in the people of the world, we are all in some way still connected to eachother.
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