dec 15, 1676 - Nathaniel Bacon Lauches Rebellion

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Nathaniel Bacon, the son of wealthy merchants, had a great hatred for both Native Americans and royal governor of Virginia Sir William Berkeley. Wanting more land, a frustrated Bacon trekked west into Virgina, killing Native Americans with his supporters and worked to instill a hatred for Berkeley among the colonists. Obsessed with power, Bacon and his vigilante group chased Berkeley out of Jamestown. Bacon was killed and the rebellion was quelled with Berkeley hanging many rebels. Bacon was able to gain support by tapping into the anger of the common people against Berkeley’s greed wealthy planter elite class. This involved tension sparked by increased taxes and decreasing tobacco sales. The historical impact of the rebellion is its representation of the divide between planter elite and the common people in Southern colonies which would play a defining role in political power.

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