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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
