Essay Sample about Nathaniel Bacon

Nathanial Bacon was a colonist of the Virginia Colony, born in 1647 in England. He was also the famous leader of the Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676. Bacon is often depicted as a "man of the people" who led an "army" of tenant farmers, European indentured slaves, and free and enslaved Africans against Governor Sir William Berkeley's tyranny. Nathanial Bacon was appointed to be a member of the Governor’s Council in 1965. The Bacon’s Rebellion was one of the largest uprisings on history, which resulted in the American Revolution. This rebellion was an uprising against Governor Sir William Berkeley and American Indians. The Bacon’s Rebellion came about because low-quality tobacco was constantly overproduced, and prices fell over time, Taxes were also raised to fund defense against the Dutch and Indians, and the vicious attacks on the colonist by the Native Americans. Although Bacon led this armed revolt, he created a declaration in 1676 which was the center piece document of the entire rebellion. 

Bacon’s declaration of 1676 was a document outlining the demands of the rebels and the causes that ignited this uprising. Nathaniel’s message also pointed out the government’s crimes. As the declaration listed many different complaints, was unjust taxation. This caused additional strain on the financial stability of local farmers and rich landowners who did not find themselves in Berkeley's inner circle and therefore unprotected by his restricted trade practices. Restrictive trade laws, such as the Navigation Acts established by the English parliament, made economic success even more difficult for small farmers. English manufactured goods prices were continuously being increased due to the success of mercantilist policies that pushed the angered colonists to Bacon’s cause of revolt. Governor Sir William Berkeley was accused of overwhelming taxation and having "upon specious pretenses of public works, raised great unjust taxes upon the commonalty for the advancement of private favorites and other sinister ends, but no visible effects in any measure adequate". As tobacco prices continued to decrease, this influenced western farmers to expand their lands and try to produce more of the cash crop. In spite of that, there were many disputes with the native tribes that made Berkeley decide to pass restrictive land expansion policies on the farmers. 

Governor Berkley did not assist in the defense of western farms against Indian assaults. Fairly frequent confrontations with nearby Indian tribes as a result of the colonists' desire to push west in order to obtain more territory pitted Berkeley against Bacon and his supporters. This did not sit well which Bacon, so he began to rally up a militia of his own. There is no clear answer to whether who was right or wrong though.