draft 2 changed introduction

__Bacon’s Rebellion is acknowledged for being “one of the most confusing yet intriguing chapters in Jamestown’s history. For many years, historians considered the Virginia Rebellion of 1676 to be the first stirring revolutionary sentiment in America” (globalsecurity.org). The power struggle between Nathaniel Bacon and Sir William Berkeley, Governor of Virginia at the time, affected not only the colony, and the colonists, but the Indians as well. Many colonists were granted land that Virginia did not own; colonists became frustrated and angry when they did not receive land that was promised to them. The land that few colonists did receive was actually the Indians land, which is why there was a lot of conflict between colonists on the frontier and the Indians.

__Governor Berkeley was not protecting the colonists and was suspected of favoring the Indians. Mrs. William Bird states in the article Royal Commissioners Narrative, that "there was said to be above two hundred of the English murdered by the barbarous Indians, and posts [messages] came in daily to the Governor, giving notice of it, and yet no course was taken to secure them." Anyone familiar with governing should agree that ignoring the people will not make you successful. Berkeley is clearing ignoring the issue's and problems that Virginia colonists have and is not protecting them. Elizabeth Bacon stated in a letter to her sister that "the Indians killing the people (English colonists) daily, the Governor not taking any notice of it to hinder them, but let them daily do all the mischief they can; I am sure it the Indian were not cowards, they might have destroyed all the upper plantation and killed all the people upon them; the Governors so much their friend, that he would not suffer any body to hurt one of the Indians... he (Nathaniel Bacon) begged of the Governor for a commission in several letters to him, that he might go out against them, but he would not grand one." Elizabeth’s assertion that the Governor is ignoring the colonists fits the facts. If he is denying permission for the colonists to defend themselves from the Indians than it is obvious that he does not care for the well being of the colonists. Berkeley is more concerned with protecting the Indians and keeping their friendship. The article A True Narrative of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, by the Royal Commissioners, 1677, excerpts, says "the [Colonists were] jealous that the Governor for the lucre of the Beaver and other trade etc. with the Indians, rather sought to protect the Indians than them. Since after public Proclamation prohibiting all trade with the Indians (they complain) he privately gave commission to some of his Friends to truck with them, and that those persons furnished the Indians with Powder, Shot etc.., so that they were better provided than his Majesty's Subjects." The Evidence Shows that Berkeley is taking advantage of his privilege of being Governor. He is betraying the colonists by trading with Indians and selecting few friends to trade with the Indians. This results in the Governor gaining profit and allowing Indians to get a hold of weapons.



__The Indians were blamed for disaster that happened to the Colonists. Puglisi states in the article "Whether They be Friends of Foes," "When several residents[Praying Indians] of Hassenamesitt were accused of being involved in an attack on the town of Lancaster the previous August. The suspicion against them resulted from their 'Singing and Dancing, and having Bullets and Slugs, and much Powder hid in their Baskets.' Captured and put on trial in Boston, they were acquitted; that fact not withstanding, the General Court decided that 'for their own & the country's security.' the Praying Indians should be moved to islands in Boston Harbor, from which 'none of the said Indians shall presume to goe off... voluntarily upon praine of death.'" The Colonists assertion that the Indians were responsible for everything that went wrong was based off of suspicion with no evidence to prove them guilty. Another statement from the article "Whether They be Friends of Foes," is that "as attacks on New England towns continued unabated, and as more and more homes went up in flames, some colonists sought to vent their frustrations on the Praying Indians of Deer Island." The evidence shows that the Indians were getting the short end of the stick, the more bad that happened to the colonists the more the colonists took it out on the Indians. Puglisi again states that "those Praying Indians who were allowed to stay on the mainland felt the brunt of the colonists' suspicions first-hand. During the fall of 1675, when the white residents of Chelmsford suffered from a series of mysterious fires in baystacks, barns, and houses, they immediately suspected the neighboring Wamesit Indians." Since all the frustration from the colonists was being vented towards the Indians, the Indians that lived near by got the worst of it, they felt like outcast.

__In result of the governor ignoring the issues and problems in Virginia, the colonists started a rebellion, which caused suffering for the Indians and still did not solve any issues in the colony. Throughout the rebellion the people felt unsafe, betrayed, and unheard from the government, which built up a lot of anger and frustration that were taken out on the Indians.