Were Bacon's actions justified by his motivations?

Kendra Nelson

Hypothesis: Were Bacon's actions justified by his motivations?

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.

Body:
I. Bacon took advantage of the poor colonists
A. "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 their side, and he probably was, I think his true meaning for his actions were deeper.

II. Bacon said he was helping to get the colonists their rights
A. Even if it was true you can't just kill people over it.

III. In Bacon’s Declaration, he says the reasons for the rebellion
A. ”great unjust taxes upon the commonalty [common people] for the advancement of private favorites and other sinister ends, but no visible effects in any measure adequate” –Nathaniel Bacon
1. Bacon is saying that the government is taxing the poor people but not using the money for any good.

B. “By what right or warrant we can enter into the land of these Savages, take away their rightfull inheritance from them and plant ourselves in their places, being unwronged or unprovoked by them” – Rev. Robert Gray in a sermon of 1609
IV. The people were already upset because of the issues, so they trusted Bacon
A. "Indian attacks on the frontier, economic depression, bad weather, high taxes--all created discontent and a desire for relief”--- http://www.jstor.org/stable/1915651
1. Bacon used that excuse to align with the poor.

V. William Berkeley did not agree with Bacon and did not grant him permission to fight the Natives.
A. "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

VI Bacon did it anyway.

VII. Works Cited or References:
a. I have used one quote from JSTOR so far. It is from William Berkeley.