Hypothesis/Thesis: Bacon's Rebellion essay Outline

I. Hook/Introduction


II. Background information:
a. Bacon's rebellion happened because of Natives attacking poor colonists.
b. Bacon's rebellion also happened because of the government taxing the poor farmers and colonists.
c. The colonists were also being treated poorly by the rich colonists who were using them as "servants"
d. Bacon rebelled against the government by killing the native tribes around the colonies.

III. Hypothesis/Thesis:
a. Hypothesis: Were Bacon's actions justified by his motivations?
b. Thesis: Bacon's reasons for rebelling and killing the natives were not justifiable.

IV. Body:
a. Bacon took advantage of the poor colonists to kill the Indians.
i. "Bacon owned a good bit of land. He probably cared more about fighting Indians than about helping the poor. Still, the common people of Virginia felt that he was on their side"-Howard Zinn. A Young People's History of the United States.
1) Even though Bacon probably told the farmers that he was on there side, and he probably was, I think his true meaning for his actions were deeper.
b. Bacon said he was helping to get the colonists their rights
1) Even if it was true you can't just kill people over it.
c. William Berkeley did not agree with Bacon and did not grant him permission to fight the Natives.
i. "so he begged of the Governor for a commission in several letters to him, that he might go out against them, but he would not grant one, so daily more mischief done by them, so your brother not able to endure any longer, he went out without a commission"-Elizabeth Bacon
1)Elizabeth Bacon is telling Bacons sister that he is doing good.
d. Bacon did it anyway.

V. Works Cited or References:
a. So far the references I have used are all from the documents Craig has given me. I'm still thinking about ways to use my jstor research in the essay.