Rough Draft #2

Bacon’s Rebellion & Class

“Open your eyes and look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're livin'?" (http://www.uvm.edu/~debate/dreadlibrary/skowera.html). This quote by Bob Marley is true to the social gap between social classes especially the lower class. The social gap between the British colonists led to one of the most important event of American History, Bacon’s rebellion. Bacon’s Rebellion was led by Nathaniel Bacon in which he supported the lower class. I agree with Bacon’s decision into rebelling for the lower class because of the class distinction of inequality and land which effectively improved the Chesapeake society in resolution and how it affects American life today.

Similar to developing nations like Pakistan , Chesapeake colonies followed the caste system. The caste system is a social hierarchy in which people inherit positions and rights by birth from older generations. The caste system range from lower to higher status based on their wealth or the wealth of older generations. This is related to the society of the Chesapeake colonies. For example, “Virginia pivoted from a colony of rather aimless adventurers into a society of tobacco planters” (“The American Promise” 80). Chesapeake colonies were considered as the tobacco society because it was the major export. Whoever owns crops were making big profit from their export and they were considered in the higher class. They were known as elite planters or yeoman planters. When Chesapeake colonies were economically growing, planters wanted more hands to work on their tobacco or other commodity crops. This was the start of class distinctions between the planters and the lower class. English immigrants served as indentured servants with a contract of four to seven years. After their contract expired, servants became landless colonists or freed servants. Still, they were in the lower class. The social gap between planters and freed servants led to the battle between Nathaniel Bacon and William Berkeley or other government officials (“The American Promise”).

The inequality between the wealthy and poor classes affected Nathaniel Bacon’s to promote a rebellion. According to Robert Beverley, Nathaniel Bacon “had been brought up at one of the Inns of court in England, and had a moderate fortune” (“On Bacon’s Rebellion, Robert Beverley). In other words, Bacon didn’t come from the lower class, but Bacon sympathized the lower class settlers’ inequality with the elites and government officials. Although “The American Promise” may object the inequality between the classes because it states that “colonists…accepted social hierarchy and inequality as long as they believed government officials ruled for the general good” (89). William Berkeley, who was Virginia’s governor, thought he followed the government excellently. William Berkeley claims that he “doe not know of anything relative to this country wherein I [he] have acted unjustly, corruptly, or negligently in distributed equall Justice to all men” (“On bacon’s Rebellion”, William Berkeley). Bacon argues that the elite and government officials “raised greate unjust taxes upon the commonality for the advancement of private favorites” and the government officials, also the grandees, “abused and rendred contemptable the Magistrates of Justice” (Declaration of the of the Name of the People, Nathaniel Bacon). I agree with Bacon because the grandees, or elites, and the supporter, William Berkeley contradicted themselves. They were unequal because they raised taxes for their private gain of wealth. In his article, Robert Beverley maintains that “taxes…fell heaviest on the poor people, the effect of whose labor would not clothe their wives and children” (“On Bacon’s Rebellion”). His point was that the taxes that burdened the poor because they can not afford the taxes.

Other than the inequality of taxes, attaining properties were also the cause of the start of the Bacon’s Rebellion. In reaching their goal into a higher status, the lower class encroached on Indian lands to build up their own crops of tobacco or other major exports. This also influenced Nathaniel Bacon to support the lower class to achieve their goal. Although I disagree with their decision to invade and gain Native American land because they violated the agreement between Native Americans and colonists. The treaty states that “to minimize contact between settlers and Indians and thereby maintain peace” (“The American Promise”). 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 social hierarchy, the lower class disobeyed the colonial government’s treaty and they encroached on Indian lands for owning properties. Though, I agree their decision into encroaching onto Native American’s land. Landless colonists 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.

With the help from Bacon in the rebellion, it had affected the Chesapeake society. Government officials decided that it would be sager to fight with the Indians and did little to stop settlers in encroaching Indian’s land (“The American Promise”). This lessened the pressure between the elite and the poor. In my opinion, I disagree with their decision to fight with the Indians, though it had benefited the lower class. Landless colonists can reach their goal to build up their crops and support themselves. Both lower and higher classes had little difference between them since then they were considered as superior whites.

The 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 diverse country and classes are complex that they can be split 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 with 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. He lived in poor conditions. Unfortunately, he didn’t own any land in Hawaii. Until later, his son or my grandfather own property.