September 18, 2008

Today, the class discussed Metacom's War, and Bacon's Rebellion. In the 1670s, more Puritans were trying, in vain, to attempt to Christianize the Indians. Unfortunately, many of the Indians had their own religion and beliefs, which made the only bitter when trying to convert. Also, diseases the Europeans brought over from Europe are starting to wipe out many Indians. To add on to this, the New England population is growing, resulting in need for space, and also because of the policy, Primogeniture, only the eldest son inherits the farms and lands of the parents, making the other siblings having to live and fend for themselves in the Frontier. This begins to make many Indians bitter; it also makes them feel as if the Europeans (whites), are intruding on their land. Then, in 1675, the war starts with the murder of three Indians, accused of killing a Harvard-educated Indian preacher named John Sassamon. Well, in return, the Indians strike back, and . Well, outmatched, Virginia sends help to Massachusetts and Connecticut bay colonies, asking for their aid in the fight. Well, now officially fighting the Indians, the Europeans not only are fighting for land, but also for the complete annihilation of the Indians. And so they begins fighting Indians, and even worse, the Christian Indians are also being killed. Some puritan members look at it as a God-sent punishment for disobedience...some shake their heads and say it's not right. All in all, eventually, the Whites win the war in 1676, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Indians, including Metacom. Also, many Indians are sent into slavery, which basically ends the threat of Indians. Problems begin to arise, know as "Land Hunger", which are shown with the way tobacco grows, which takes a heavy toll on the land. 1675, the Doeges Indian tribe runs into conflict, beginning with a death of an Indian, and a planter. Virginia, under command of Gov. William Berkly, sends a couple militiamen to investigate, and hopefully resolve the conflict peacefully. They prefer vengeance, and chase them off into Maryland. The Militia eventually surround the Indian's Village, and lay siege on them for a six week period. Starving and dying, the Indians try to break out, resulting in the death of some of the militiamen. After breaking out, they swear vengeance, and run off into the woods. Then, blaming Virginia more than Maryland, the Indians kill more than 30 settlers in Jan. 1676. Virginia begins to panic, and asks Berkly what to do. Berkley, not wanting to leave Jamestown or his luxuries, decides to set up a defense of forts. Sadly for the settlers, to build the forts, Taxation had to be raised to build forts, which many deemed unnecessary. This begins the split between the social classes, were the wealthy grow, and the poor begin to make their way on the frontier. To add to the misery, the Governor also says to completely stop communications with Indians, he declared the fur trade stopped, except to a few wealth associates of his. This makes a man by the name of Nathaniel Bacon, a somewhat aggressive man, not happy with Berkly's new ideas. Bacon, against the orders of defense, decides to start killing Indians left and right. When this occurs, Berkly claims Bacon an outlaw, then later elect Bacon to the House of Burgesses. There, Bacon is forced to publicly apologize for his actions. This, in turn, makes Bacon seek revenge. So, he starts rebellion, and begins by assaulting Jamestown and Berkly. There he demanded of Berkly, at gunpoint, to promote him to General, and allow him to go off, killing Indians like he was doing before. Then, after Berkly flees, he makes many of the plantation workers swear loyalty to him. Bacon then continues to go off plundering Indians in the Summer of 1676. Then, in August of 1676, Berkly tries to retake Jamestown, resulting in Bacon burning Jamestown to the ground. Unfortunately, Bacon dies in October 1676, of a the nasty, dysentery disease. British soldiers and Gov. officials arrive in Jan. 1677, telling Berkly he is to report back to Jamestown. There, Berkly was to be put before Parliament, and demanded to know what is happening back in the colonies. But before he can present his case, he dies in England, in 1677.