Sir William Berkley
William Berkley was governor of Virginia from 1641 to 1652 and from 1600 to 1677. While he was governor, Virginia changed from just a small colony to the center of agriculture and commerce. Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676 threatened Berkeley’s legacy. After Bacon died, Berkley was able to regain his authority as governor and therefore ending the rebellion by January 1677.
|
Summary of Rebellion
Bacon’s Rebellion was a popular revolt in colonial Virginia in 1676 which was led by Nathaniel Bacon. The uprising developed because of high taxes, low prices for tobacco, and anger towards Sir Berkeley because he provided special privileges that were given to those close to the Berkeley. Bacon gathered his supporters, marched on Jamestown, and forced Berkeley into giving permission to continue his campaigns against Native Americans. Bacon gained control of the colony but died suddenly. Without his leadership, the rebellion died down.
Effects
Governor Berkeley returned to power after Nathaniel Bacon died. After regaining his power, he took the property of several rebels and executed 23 men by hanging. After a committee returned its report to King Charles II, Berkeley was discharged from the governorship and was recalled to England.
Indentured servants were used until the 1680s. After that, the planter/plantation class soon looked to Africa for a source of labor instead of indentured servitude. There was a smaller pool of poor whites in England willing to become indentured servants. Because of this, black slave populations increased between 1700-1750s. They accounted for half of the population in Virginia and two-thirds of the population in South Carolina. |
Nathaniel Bacon
A SHORT CLIP ON BACON'S REBELLION
Sources:
http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/HIST312-3.2.1-Bacons-Rebellion.pdf
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/bacon-rebellion.html
http://sevamarkers.umwblogs.org/2012/03/29/sir-william-berkeley/
http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/HIST312-3.2.1-Bacons-Rebellion.pdf
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/bacon-rebellion.html
http://sevamarkers.umwblogs.org/2012/03/29/sir-william-berkeley/