Governor William Berkeley
Alison Stonecipher, Siddhardha Gudavalli and Drew McAdams
Early Life
Studied at Oxford
Close with British King, Berkley was one of the kings favorite
Grew up in England with a wealthy family
Contributions to colonial development/independence
Governor William Berkeley became the governor of Virginia in 1641 when the colony was struggling. He managed to turn the colony around through his leadership, promotion of trade between colonies and his goal of economic diversity.
He allowed for other traders to participate in the Indian Trade which he had the opportunity to hold a monopoly on.
At his own personal farm, Green Spring, he conducted many agricultural experiments to diversify the agriculture/ economy. During his second governing term he tried in implement his research in the colony with all the farmers but failed due to uneducated and poor farmers not willing to pay the higher taxes caused by this experiment.
As governor he willingly shared power allowing for the House of Burgesses to become a small version of the parliament, causing the elite class (called tidewater aristocrats) to become over powerful with both money and government power.
During his second term as governor, he slowly started to lose close followers from his inner circle in the colonial government but stayed governor until Bacon's rebellion.
Bacon's Rebellion caused by disagreement over Indians (this being to final straw)
Berkeley had not dealt with Indian attacks well.
So, Nathaniel Bacon lead a 500 person group of fighters to control Virginia and fight the Indians.
England sent a 1000 soldiers to fight, but William Berkeley had already defeated them.
Political Affiliations
Berkeley was hostile to Puritans and Quakers. He punished preachers who didn't follow the Church of England.
He opposed all public education because he did not see the benifits.
He supported an economy that was diversified from tobacco and free trade.
- Berkeley also wanted autonomy for Virginia. This meant he wanted Virginia to be self Governed.
Virginia
Governor William Berkeley Monument
Diversified Economy
Integrity
Citizenship
Work cited
-"Jamestown Interpretive Essays - Sir William Berkeley." Virtual Jamestown. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2013. <http://www.virtualjamestown.org/essays/billings_essay.html>.
-"Sir William Berkeley." Library of Virginia. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2013. <http://www.lva.virginia.gov/exhibits/political/william_berkeley.htm>.