jan 1, 1677 - Culpeper's Rebellion
Description:
A revolt led by John Culpeper in North Carolina over taxes. North Carolinians were harmed by the Navigation Acts, which heavily taxed tobacco, one of the colony's main products. These dues were compounded by the lack of good crops for several years brought on by hurricanes and droughts. The heads of Carolina, the Lords Proprietors, refused to discontinue the taxes, and appointed two men loyal to them to high positions. Thomas Eastchurch became the colony's new governor, while Thomas Miller received the job of customs collector. Eastchurch, in England at the time, was delayed in arriving at Carolina, so Miller appointed himself governor in the meantime. He interfered in local elections and imprisoned his political opponents, including George Durant.
Dissatisfied with the way Miller and the Proprietors were running the colony, a group of forty men decided to depose the new governor. They were led by Durant, John Valentine (the customs collector before Miller), and John Culpeper. They imprisoned Miller, but the interim governor managed to escape to England. He and Culpeper argued their sides before the Proprietors and Parliament. Culpeper was acquitted of charges of rebellion.
After the rebellion, the Lords Proprietors made stronger attempts to establish a real government in Carolina. Durant acted as the unofficial governor, restoring peace and order to the province. When the official governor, Seth Sothel, arrived in 1683, he was found to be corrupt and was deposed. Philip Ludwell became the new governor in 1691, who was ordered by the Proprietors to ignore the Fundamental Constitutions in favor of the original charter. Carolina became stable and continued growing.
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