Chapter 3: Persons of Mean and Vile Condition

Paul KarmiryanCh S 245 OL- 14004

Bacon’s RebellionNathaniel Bacon began

Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676 over how to deal with the Indians who were close by the western frontier. Whites attempted to expand

westward, but faced the dilemma of fighting Indians

Governor William Berkeley had a more peaceful approach

Violence broke on the frontier with the Indians

Bacon’s “Declaration of the People”Described the resentment

towards the richDemanded for more

protection against Indians on the Western frontier.

Bacon dies of illness, and the rebellion ceases to continue

New leader, Thomas Grantham attempts to restore order by promising to pardon everyone and disarm rebel forces as the captain of the ship

Against the Governor Berkeley argued: “... we cannot

but resent, that forty thousand people should be impoverish'd to enrich little more than forty Merchants…”

Many Virginians supported the rebellion against the governor

Other members of Government Counsel (I.e. Richard Lee) also supported the rebellion

Servants of the “miserably poor white underclass” also joined Bacon’s rebellion

Servants and ImmigrantsPoor people coming to

America was seen as a commodity of a profit for merchants

The biggest profit to be made was by shipping slaves, according to Abbot Smith

Immigrants must agree to work for their “master” for 5-7 years upon emigration

Trip to America lasted 8-12 weeks under inhuman conditions on ships.

Life as a ServantBeatings were commonWomen servants were often raped4 out of 5 servants died of disease Laws existed, but were not

enforcedRebellion was attempted, but was

impractical because of their lack of power

Servants could not marry without permissionOften not allowed because child

bearing would interrupt a women servants ability to serve as a servant

A Servant’s Way Out?Many servants ran away: it was easier than rebellionSome ran away with boat, but they were often captured

and beatenA number of servants went on strike demanding decent

food, but were whipped and the striking stoppedUS Constitutions held that fugitive servants could not

simply hop through states for freedomMaryland’s population consisted of 10% white servantsRare case of free servants became wealthy landowners

Abbot Smith argues that they were not given equal opportunity even after they were freed. He states that, “about one in ten was a sound and solid individual”

The other 80% were “shifted, hopeless individuals”

The Colonies GrowMany English settlers and European immigrantsBlack slaves were pouring inShipping and trading expanded overseasUpper class gains the most political power and

wealth from the expansionPercentage of poor white males doubled from 14% to 29%The poor struggled to stay aliveUnemployment was at a high

Severe Food ShortageHigh prices of food in 1713 led

many poor on the streets hungry

200 people riot on the Boston CommonAttacked trade ships and

warehouses looking for foodWealthy merchants like Andrew

Belcher had their ships attacked

Many criticized the rich of having oppressed and cheated the poor

England in WarDuring the 1730’s, England was

fighting a series of wars under Queen Anne’s and King George’s rule

This allowed for merchants to get rich

Taxes, unemployment and poverty were at a high

Seamen rioted in 1747Indians servants were an obstacle

while Black slaves were submissive and easy to controlDangers of slave revolts were high

The Threat Many feared that the

slaves, Indian servants, and poor would unite and revoltSome doubted this threat as

communication was difficult In the North, Blacks and

Indians could not meet in large numbers

This fear caused consideration of war against Indians

This gave rise to a new policy, which later turned into a war

The New Policy Laws were passed prohibiting

Black slaves in Indian territory because of the fear of revolutionThis fear was caused by the unity

Bacon’s Rebellion instilled upon the people

Treaties were made with Indian tribesIndian fugitive servants were freed

in exchangeStill, the government feared

revolution from the Black slavesBlacks were used in the Cherokee

War in order to control for this

The Middle Class Fights BackThe middle class fought against

the corruption of the wealthyThe New Yorker Cadwallader

Golden article attacked wealthy tax dodgers

A rich man named James Otis attacks the middle class by stating it is the rich who owns Boston

In the Pennsylvania Journal it was stated in 1756 that, “It was ... a middle-class society governed for the most part by its upper classes."

References

Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States. 2005. Print.