Essay Outline

Bacon's Rebellion & Class

I. Similar to any other countries, Chesapeake follow the caste system.
A. The caste system is a social hierarchy in which people inherit positions and rights by birth from older generations.
1. For example, "Virginia pivoted from a colony of rather aimless adventurers into a society of dedicated tobacco planters" (The American Promise).
a. When Chesapeake society was economically growing, planters needed indentured servants to do labor work.
b. Indentured servants were in the bottom of the class system

II. Class, or social hierarchy, was the major cause of Bacon's Rebellion.
A. Government officials had a higher status than poor farmers and freemen.
1. Officials violated the general good of the government.
a. Writing in The Declaration of the People, Nathaniel Bacon complains that government officials and King Charles II "raised greate unjust taxes upon the Commonality."
i. They raised high taxes on tobacco.
ii. I agree with Bacon because the commonality, or lower status men, weren't able to afford the taxes.
B. Recently freed indentured servants became poor farmers or freemen.
1. Poor farmers were hungry for Indian land to build up their own crops of commodities, such as tobacco.
a. I disagreed with their decision to invade and gain Indian land which violates the agreement between Indians and colonists.
i. The agreement states that settlers and Indians should maintain peace regarding to land ownership. (What is theirs, is theirs).
ii. The agreement also states that settlers should not encroach Native American land.
b. Although, I agree with their decision into encroaching Native American land.
i. Freemen and poor farmers need to provide their crops for survival.
ii. Recently freed indentured servants means they have the opportunity to become rich.
iii. Freemen wanted to move up from their lower status to a higher one.
III. After the Bacon's Rebellion, social hierarchy affected the Chesapeake society.
A. Government officials decide that it would be safer to fight with the Indians.
1. It lessened the pressure between the elite and the poor.
a. I disagree with their decision to fight with the Indians, though it benefits for the freemen.
i. Porr farmers can reach their goal to build up their crops and support themselves.
IIII. Lastly, social hierarchy of Bacon's Rebellion relates to the social hierarchy of american life today.
A. In relation, American life today consists of inequality.
1. America is a diverse country by education, wealth, and income.
2. People inherit their class by birth
a. Though Americans have the right of choice to move up to a higher or lower social status.