American Leaders and Heroes: A preliminary text-book in United States HistoryGordy, Wilbur F. (Wilbur Fisk)
History
American Leaders and Heroes: A preliminary text-book in United States History
Gordy, Wilbur F. (Wilbur Fisk)
United States -- Biography
While he was gone Berkeley called out the militia, with the intention of
overpowering Bacon upon his return, but on learning the governor's
purpose the troops refused to fight and went back to their homes. Sick
with the sense of failure, Governor Berkeley now sought a place of
safety across Chesapeake Bay in Accomac County.
[Illustration: The Burning of Jamestown.]
Bacon once more occupied Jamestown, but for a third time found it
necessary to march against the Indians. While he was gone Berkeley, who
had succeeded in raising a troop of one thousand men, came back and took
possession of the capital. Although Bacon's men were tired out with
fighting the Indians, they promptly gathered at his call, and attacked
Berkeley with such vigor that the poor governor was glad to escape again
to his retreat in Accomac County.
When Bacon got control of Jamestown, then a mere village of some sixteen
to eighteen houses, he burned it to prevent its falling into Berkeley's
hands. The people's leader had been successful, and had risked his life
and his fortune for the common rights. But the strain of the past four
or five months in the malarial swamps broke down his health, and after a
short illness, he died of fever at the home of a friend, in October,
1676. It is not known where he was buried. His friends were obliged to
hide his body, because they feared that, according to the custom of the
times, Berkeley might seize it and have it hanged.
With Bacon's death the rebellion lost its heart and soul. Berkeley
brutally punished Bacon's friends, some twenty of whom he put to death.
This displeased the English king, who summoned the governor to return to
England, where he soon afterward died a broken-hearted man.
Bacon's Rebellion, as this uprising of Virginians in 1676 has been
rightly called, although it seemed to fail, was not without large
influence for good. For it strengthened the liberty-loving spirit of the
people, and prepared them for that greater movement in behalf of their
rights that took place one hundred years later.
REVIEW OUTLINE
THE "STARVING TIME."
LORD DELAWARE ARRIVES.
DALE DOES AWAY WITH THE COMMON STOREHOUSE.
TOBACCO AND THE PLANTATION.
THE NAVIGATION LAWS INJURE THE PLANTERS.
BERKELEY ACTS LIKE A TYRANT.
THE INDIANS USE THE FIREBRAND AND THE TOMAHAWK WITH TELLING EFFECT.
NATHANIEL BACON LEADS A FORCE AGAINST THE INDIANS.
HE IS ELECTED TO THE ASSEMBLY.
HIS CAPTURE AND ESCAPE.
HE GETS HIS COMMISSION.
HE ATTACKS BERKELEY AT JAMESTOWN.
HIS DEATH.
A STRIKING RESULT OF BACON'S REBELLION.
TO THE PUPIL
1. What important thing was done by Sir Thomas Dale?
2. What were the Navigation Laws, and how did they affect the
planters?
3. Describe Berkeley. What do you admire in Bacon?
4. Write a paragraph on each of the following topics: Bacon leads
a force against the Indians; Bacon elected to the assembly; his
capture and escape; he gets his commission; he attacks Berkeley
at Jamestown.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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