redo- They Say: Bacons Rebellion

When it comes to the topic of Bacon's Rebellion, most of us will readily agree that the Natives were very mistreated by the English colonists. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of, who was the rebellion ultimately suppose to effect? Where as some are convinced that the rebellion was towards Berkley, his supporters, and the colonist's council. Others maintain that the rebellion was against the Natives. Howard Zinn and Rebecca Stefoff stated that, Bacon's Rebellion was a war with the poor white colonists against both the Indians as well as the colonist's own leaders (p35). "Bacon accused Berkely and the government of wrong doing, including unfair taxes and not protecting the western farmers from the Indians" (p38). That caused a lot of the lower class white colonists to get very upset with the council, and they end up taking out their anger on the Indians. The Indians were forced to be slaves and servants, where beating were and mistreatment was normal and the native women were rapped by the english colonists. Even the Indians who had peace treaties with the colonists were betrayed. As time went on the rich got even richer, and the slaves were getting more and more mistreated. "People of the upper class had their portraits painted and traveled in coaches or in chairs carried by servants or slaves. Meanwhile, the poor struggled to stay alive, to keep from freezing in cold weather. According to Michael J. Puglisi, "When the war broke out, some military leaders suggested fortifying the Praying Towns as a wall of defense for the colony"(p79). This is evidence that the colonist were using the Indians and betraying their peace. The Indians never did anything wrong or harmful to the English colonist, there was no reason for the horrible treatment that they received. Summarizing these documents I read, they all explain the rebellion and how the English government was being unfair, and taking advantage of the colonists. Then causing the colonists to get very angry and take out their frustrations on the Indians. In other words, how Puglisi would say it, "The natives faces situations beyond their control, experiencing abuses and even violent attack from their suppsed white allies, and suffered humiliating treatment by the colonial government to whom they pleged their allegiance"(p83).