Bacon's Rebellion

Bacon's rebellion: Started from Virginia's shift from indentured servants to African slaves as the main form of labor. Settlers demanded the governor authorize Indians to be removed to make room for whites so settlers could acquire land. William Berkeley had a corrupt alliance with some tobacco planters, he rewarded followers with land grants and offices. He kept a relationship with the Natives by profiting from their trade. Rebellion started with massacres of Indians and grew to attacks towards Berkeley. The leader was Nathaniel Bacon and his backers included men of wealth that were outside the governor's circle. He gained support from small farmers, landless men, indentured servants, and some Africans. He promised freedom to people who joined him. Eventually they burned down Jamestown, which caused the governor to flee and Bacon became the ruler of Virginia. The arrival of warships from England restored order. Navigation Acts: The navigation acts were a series of laws, which forced certain goods such as tobacco, sugar and other valuable products to be shipped on English ships, and from English ports. The purpose was to prevent direct trade with other European nations such as France and the Netherlands. Because of the navigation acts, the English government was able to increase income tax. The colonies benefited as well because these acts caused an increase in demand for ships thus having New England's ship building industry rise substantially.