Rough Draft #1

Bacon's Rebellion & Class

Similar to other countries like England, Chesapeake followed the caste system. The caste system is a social hierarchy in which people inherit positions and rights by birth from older generations. This is related to the society of Chesapeake colonies. For example, “Virginia pivoted from a colony of rather aimless adventurers into a society of tobacco planters” (The American Promise). This means that colonists who owned large amount of land become planters or elites. When the Chesapeake colonies were economically growing, planters with a vast amount of land wanted more hands to work on their tobacco or other commodity crops. Indentured servants were chosen to serve the planters crops, with a contract of three to six years. Indentured servants were considered the bottom of the class system. Therefore, they were born in the lower class and served their “inherited” positions with the elites.

Regarding to the Chesapeake colonies, class or social hierarchy, was the primary cause of Bacon’s Rebellion. Government officials and gentry had a higher status than poor farmers and freemen. Officials and also the elites violated the general food of the government. “The members of the new gentry used their commercial connections and strategic landholdings to engross trade. They ignored the Navigation Acts and engaged in illegal commerce” (The Alteration in the Relationship between Leadership and Constituents in Virginia, 1660 to 1720). This related to the tensions between lower class and higher class. On one hand, the members of the gentry or elites did illegal commerce for their private gain of wealth and land. On the other hand, the Navigation Acts was ignored by the gentry and taxes fell unto the hands of poor people. The Navigation Acts were laws that tax on a certain amount, such as hogsheads, of tobacco. Writing in The Declaration of the People, Nathaniel Bacon complains that government officials “raised greate unjust taxes upon the commonality.” The taxes were raised on the major export, such as tobacco. This made indentured servants to pay the taxes which “the effect of whose labor would not clothe their wives and children” (On Bacon’s Rebellion).

The effect of freed servants also caused Bacon’s Rebellion. Freed servants became poor farmers and freemen. Although they were one step higher than the status of freed servants, poor farmers and freemen were still in the lower class. In reaching their goal into a higher status, they encroached on Indian lands to build up their own crops of tobacco or other major exports. Although I disagree with their decision to invade and gain Native American land because they violated the agreement between Indians and colonists. The treaty states that “to minimize contact between settlers and Indians and thereby maintain peace.” This means that English colonists stay in their colonies and the Indians stay in their own land. Also, settlers can not encroach on Indian land. In class hierarchy, the lower class disobeyed the colonial government’s treaty and they encroached on Indian lands for their hunger of owning property. Though, I agree their decision into encroaching onto Native American land. Freemen and poor farmers need to provide their crops for survival. Recently freed indentured servants mean they have the opportunity to become rich. Freemen wanted to move up from their lower status to a higher one.

After the Bacon’s Rebellion, social hierarchy affected the Chesapeake society. Government officials decided that the it would be safer to fight with the Indians and did little to stop settlers in encroaching Indian’s land. This lessened the pressure between the elite and the poor. I disagree with their decision to fight with the Indians, though it benefits for the freemen. Poor farmers can reach their goal to build up their crops and support themselves.

Lastly, social hierarchy of the Chesapeake society relates to the social hierarchy of American life today. In relation, American life today consists of inequality. America is a diverse country by education, wealth, and income. Also, citizens inherit their class by birth. Though, Americans have the right of choice to move up to a higher or lower social status. For example, immigrants move to America for a better life. Some end up in lower class jobs, in meaning of low income. My great-grandfather immigrated to Hawaii and worked on sugarcane and pineapple fields. He also worked for a contract like the indentured servants.