Bacon's Rebellion
1676
Why is this happening?
The Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was an uprising in 1676 - 1677 against American Indians and the colonial government in the Virginia Colony over taking reprisal action for alleged thefts by the Native Americans. It was led by Nathaniel Bacon, a wealthy 29-year-old planter, in opposition to the Governor of Virginia, Sir William Berkeley. Nathaniel Bacon arrived with a quantity of brandy; after it was distributed, he was elected leader "of the rebellion tribe". Against Berkeley's orders, the group struck south until they came to the Occaneechi tribe. After getting the Occaneechi to attack the Susquehannock, Bacon and his men followed by killing most of the men, women, and children at the village. They ended up killing many Indian tribes prior to this. After months of conflict, Bacon's forces, numbering 300-500 men, moved to Jamestown. They burned the colonial capital to the ground on September 19, 1676. Bacon's Rebellion is the first rebellion in the American colonies.