Chapter 3: Persons of Mean and Vile Condition
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Transcript Chapter 3: Persons of Mean and Vile Condition
Paul Karmiryan
Ch S 245 OL- 14004
Bacon’s Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon began Bacon’s
Rebellion in 1676 over how to deal
with the Indians who were close by
the western frontier.
Whites attempted to expand
westward, but faced the dilemma
of fighting Indians
Governor William Berkeley had a
more peaceful approach
Violence broke on the frontier
with the Indians
Bacon’s “Declaration of the People”
Described the resentment
towards the rich
Demanded for more protection
against Indians on the Western
frontier.
Bacon dies of illness, and the
rebellion ceases to continue
New leader, Thomas Grantham
attempts to restore order by
promising to pardon everyone
and disarm rebel forces as the
captain of the ship
Against the Governor
Berkeley argued: “... we cannot but
resent, that forty thousand people
should be impoverish'd to enrich
little more than forty Merchants…”
Many Virginians supported the
rebellion against the governor
Other members of Government
Counsel (I.e. Richard Lee) also
supported the rebellion
Servants of the “miserably poor
white underclass” also joined
Bacon’s rebellion
Servants and Immigrants
Poor people coming to
America was seen as a
commodity of a profit for
merchants
The biggest profit to be made
was by shipping slaves,
according to Abbot Smith
Immigrants must agree to
work for their “master” for 5-7
years upon emigration
Trip to America lasted 8-12
weeks under inhuman
conditions on ships.
Life as a Servant
Beatings were common
Women servants were often raped
4 out of 5 servants died of disease
Laws existed, but were not
enforced
Rebellion was attempted, but was
impractical because of their lack
of power
Servants could not marry without
permission
Often not allowed because child
bearing would interrupt a women
servants ability to serve as a
servant
A Servant’s Way Out?
Many servants ran away: it was easier than rebellion
Some ran away with boat, but they were often captured and
beaten
A number of servants went on strike demanding decent
food, but were whipped and the striking stopped
US Constitutions held that fugitive servants could not
simply hop through states for freedom
Maryland’s population consisted of 10% white servants
Rare case of free servants became wealthy landowners
Abbot Smith argues that they were not given equal
opportunity even after they were freed. He states that, “about
one in ten was a sound and solid individual”
The other 80% were “shifted, hopeless individuals”
The Colonies Grow
Many English settlers and European immigrants
Black slaves were pouring in
Shipping and trading expanded overseas
Upper class gains the most political power and wealth
from the expansion
Percentage of poor white
males doubled from 14% to
29%
The poor struggled to stay
alive
Unemployment was at a high
Severe Food Shortage
High prices of food in 1713 led
many poor on the streets hungry
200 people riot on the Boston
Common
Attacked trade ships and
warehouses looking for food
Wealthy merchants like Andrew
Belcher had their ships attacked
Many criticized the rich of having
oppressed and cheated the poor
England in War
During the 1730’s, England was
fighting a series of wars under Queen
Anne’s and King George’s rule
This allowed for merchants to get
rich
Taxes, unemployment and poverty
were at a high
Seamen rioted in 1747
Indians servants were an obstacle
while Black slaves were submissive
and easy to control
Dangers of slave revolts were high
The Threat
Many feared that the slaves,
Indian servants, and poor would
unite and revolt
Some doubted this threat as
communication was difficult
In the North, Blacks and Indians
could not meet in large numbers
This fear caused consideration of
war against Indians
This gave rise to a new policy,
which later turned into a war
The New Policy
Laws were passed prohibiting
Black slaves in Indian territory
because of the fear of revolution
This fear was caused by the unity
Bacon’s Rebellion instilled upon
the people
Treaties were made with Indian
tribes
Indian fugitive servants were freed
in exchange
Still, the government feared
revolution from the Black slaves
Blacks were used in the Cherokee
War in order to control for this
The Middle Class Fights Back
The middle class fought against the
corruption of the wealthy
The New Yorker Cadwallader Golden
article attacked wealthy tax dodgers
A rich man named James Otis
attacks the middle class by stating it
is the rich who owns Boston
In the Pennsylvania Journal it was
stated in 1756 that, “It was ... a
middle-class society governed for the
most part by its upper classes."
References
Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States.
2005. Print.