my hypothesis/thesis

Thesis: The government mistreated all of the people directly involved with Bacon's Rebellion.


I. Government
---A. Benefit from trade
-----1. The made a law that no one was allowed to trade with any Indians, but the governor made special licenses for some people to trade with the Indians as long as he gets a part of the profit.
---B. Protecting the Indians
-----1. The government sent back an Army of English when they went to fight the Indians.
-----2. The government warned the Indians Bacon was coming for them.
-----3. They built forts in the woods to "protect" colonists, but knew there was really no security. (then taxed the people)
---C. The government ignored the colonists complaints about the Indians behavior.
-----1. The colonists complained about the Indians killing people, but governor didn't even take notice
-----2. The governor didn't believe the colonist's accusations.
-----3. Berkeley publicly named Bacon a traitor.
-----4. The governor refused to sign a promised commission.

II. Colonists
---A. Freedom
-----1. The whole colony rich and poor were being used by the government.
-----2. Indentured servants were bought and sold like slaves.
-----3. Poor people signed an agreement to be slaves for 5-7 years.
---B. Taxes
-----1.There was a huge gap between the rich and poor.
-----2.Unfair taxes (way to high), unemployment and poverty.
-----3.Colonists grew tobacco and the king made a huge profit.
-----4.The rich built mansions, while the poor struggled to survive.
---C. Laws
-----1. The government was protecting the Indians.
-----2. The government made restrictions to vote and lack of protection.
-----3. Changes in land laws caused farmers to homelessness.
-----4. New laws passed to punish poor, imprison them and send them to America.

3. Indians
---A.Land
-----1.The Indians were forced to live on predestined English land.
-----2.They had their land taken away by white frontiersmen.
---B. Freedom
-----1.Indians were alienated and distrusted
-----2.They thought the government was on their side, really they were only using them to take advantage of the trade.
-----3.New Virgina laws made slavery lifelong and inherited by one's children.
-----4.Thomas Grantham promised to free the slaves, instead took their weapons and returned them to their masters (when they were trying to defend themselves).
-- Government used Indians as their spies.
---C. Violence
-----1.The Indians were forced to be slaves.
-----2.Even the Indians who had peace treaties were killed.
-----3. Even the Indians who had been Christianized were killed.

4. Berkeley VS. Bacon
---A.Who really made Bacon's rebellion worse?
------1. Bacon helped the colonists.
------a.Bacon was only in the colony for three years and was made one of the council members.
------b.Bacon had great respect from the colonists.
------c.Bacon killed Indian friends.
------d.Bacon charges Berkeley as negligent, wicked and incapable, laws and taxes unjust
------e.Bacon was arrested for disobeying the government and leading an illegal war against the Indians (soon released)
-----2. Berkeley Used the Indians for trade
------a.Berkeley failed to defend colonists from native attacks
------b.Berkeley fled from bacon and his followers, twice.
------c.Bacon triggered the civil war by demanding a military commission that would authorize him to attack the Indians
------d.They fought over loyal servants and small landowners
------e.Berkeley hung two dozen men and took their estates who were Bacon's followers.