1. The American Colonies Virginia, 1675
BACON’S REBELLION
The American Colonies
Virginia, 1675

2. ORIGINAL 13 COLONIES

3. Picture It… You are an Indentured Servant in Colonial America
Tobacco has become the cash crop savior of the colony
Everyone is trying to make $$$ planting it
It is EVERYWHERE!!!

4. Some Background: Indentured Servant: Headright System
Someone who agrees to work for 5 to 7 years in exchange for
Food, clothing and shelter
Training in a skill
And/or passage to America
Possible land
Headright System
A reward of 50 acres of land for bringing people to America (Virginia). Sometimes given to an indentured servant upon completion of the indenture contract.

7. BUT… Tobacco is incredibly harsh on the land
The Colonial Economy & Labor Force has become one-dimensional
Education is lacking
Cities aren’t developing
Indentured Servants are frustrated
high taxes
no more land left for them

8. What if something goes wrong???

9. PRECURSORS TO BACON’S REBELLION
1. One crop economy
2. Indentured Servitude
3. Soil Dying

10. Something Does!!!
As the market is flooded with tobacco, the price of tobacco plummets
Farmers not making much money
Go into debt
Still have heavy taxes
As tobacco is harsh on the land, the soil needs time to replenish

11. What To Do??? Colonists thought if they could just get more land…
Could grow more tobacco
Sell more
Make more money!!!
But there is no more land…for colonists
Who has the rest???

13. Native Americans Treaties have been signed Borders have been drawn
So What!!!!!!!!!!
Discontent boils over…
Farmers begin to invade Powhatan Lands to the West
Group of Susquehannocks are killed
Retaliation comes

15. Cry for War!!
VA Governor William Berkeley refuses to authorize a war (with Native Americans)
Farmers are furious at Gov’t
In steps…
Nathaniel Bacon
Led poor farmers, indentured servants, even slaves on a rampage

16. N. BACON

17. CAUSES OF BACON’S REBELLION
1. Tobacco Price Fall
2. Lack of Available Land
3. High Taxes
4. No Gov’t Help

18. Bacon’s Rebellion Makes war on Native Tribes for their Lands
Begins looting wealthy white plantations as well
Jamestown is burned

19. Bacon Organizing His Men

20. Jamestown Burned

21. EFFECTS OF BACON’S REBELLION
1. Farmers Start War
2. Invasion of Native American Lands
3. Attack Wealthy Planters

22. But Then… Bacon dies suddenly Rebellion fades out
HOUSE OF BURGESSES – VA Assembly votes to lower taxes and open up some land

23. THE REALIZATION Indentured Servant Labor isn’t Working!!!
They become free and want things
Like land, freedoms, rights, money
American Colonies Need a New Source of Labor
One that won’t give them these problems

24. OUTCOME OF BACON’S REBELLION
1. Some Gov’t Help
Lower Taxes
2. SLAVERY EXPANDS IN THE COLONIES!!!
Indentured Servitude will not work

25. Colonial Diversity

26. Growth of Slavery 1820

27. Slavery Growth 1860

28. What was Bacon’s Rebellion?
Farmers expressing discontent, making war on Native Americans to get more land

29. What is the SIGNIFICANCE of Bacon’s Rebellion?
The Significance of Bacon’s Rebellion is that African Slavery was expanded in the American Colonies
(Cause and Effect!!!)
(Changes over Time!!!)

30. Historical Background What caused King Philip’s War?
What was happening to New England’s Native American population before 1675?
Who was King Phillip?
What were the results of King Philip’s War?
Based on what you read, what do you think caused King Philip’s War?

31. Document A
Sourcing:
Who wrote this account? Was the author a colonist or a Native American?
When was this account written? (before or after King Philip’s War?)
Given who wrote it, do you think it’s fair to call the document King Philip’s Perspective? Why or why not?

32. Document A
Contextualization: Begin reading the document after you’ve sourced it.
4. What was happening in New England that led to this meeting?
5. What are 3 complaints that the Native Americans made to John Easton?

33. Document B
Who wrote this account? Why would the English government care about what was happening all the way across the ocean in New England?
When was this account written? (before or after King Philip’s War?)What do you predict the author will say were the causes of King Philip’s War?

34. What are three different theories that the colonists have for why Indians attacked English settlements? Do the colonists blame themselves? Explain.
Based on Document B, how would you describe the colonists’ attitude towards Native Americans?

35. Compare Points of View
Using evidence from Documents A and B, what do you think caused King Philip’s War of 1675?

36. What does King Philip’s War and Bacon’s Rebellion tell us about conflict in the colonies during this time?

37. Citations:
Albert B. Hart, ed., American History Told by Contemporaries. Vol. 1, (New York, 1897).
John Easton, “A Relation of the Indian War” in A Narrative of the Causes Which Led to Philip’s Indian War (Albany: J. Munsell, 1858), 5–15.