AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Bacon's Rebellion (Day 27/309)

Welcome to day 27 of APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

Today I will be explaining Bacon’s Rebellion.

Map of Virginia at the time of Bacon’s Rebellion, Gutenberg.org

In Virginia, an elite group of colonists maintained the wealth and power. Former indentured servants were only able to acquire land in the west which left them more vulnerable to conflict with American Indians.

Nathaniel Bacon, Britannica

In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon organized a colonial militia to attack American Indian tribes. However, Governor Berkeley refused to support the colonial militia.

Burning of Jamestown, American History Central

Bacon and his followers (composed of free and enslaved Africans, women, and poor whites), turned their focus to the governor and the House of Burgesses. They burned Jamestown to the ground but shortly after, Bacon died of dysentery.

Number of Indentured Servants and Slaves, Origins of Slavery DBQ

Without their leader, the rebellion fell apart. However, the conflict had demonstrated deeply seeded class tensions. Fears grew about the ability to control potential alliances between the diverse laboring groups in the colonies.

Bacon’s Rebellion exposed class tensions especially between wealthy and poor whites. As a result, wealthy planters increasingly shifted from the use of white indentured servants to enslaved Africans. Additionally they instituted laws that created greater distinctions between the races.

Join me tomorrow as I explain Slavery in British North America in our next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!