
Editor’s note: Are the events of the past just an archival story of people and times long gone or do they continue to shape and affect the modern day? Can society learn from the past and use that information as current situations arise?
Living in a historically rich area, we can see many instances that show how time marches on — from fashion to politics. This series will explore the connections between our local history and today.
Read Part One: Connections Past: Bacon’s Rebellion here.
JAMESTOWN — Nathanial Bacon was 29. A young charismatic, smooth-talking new Virginian. Gov. William Berkeley was a wealthy aristocrat in his 70s who was appointed by the King of England himself.
Each viewed the other as out of touch.
“Whatever side people are on today, there were similar positions 348 years ago,” said Mark Summers, Public Historian and Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation’s Director of Public and Youth Programs.
In this case, it led to rebellion.
There were several factors that led to the events of Bacon’s Rebellion, according to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, which says, “the uprising generally is depicted as a reaction to a perceived crisis in Virginia’s economic, social, and political order.”
Generational change, wealth, cultural and religious differences, land disputes along with legal and political shifts — these subjects are seen throughout time.
They have become contributing factors to conflicts throughout history — in both the United States and globally — most recently in events such as the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the Russo-Ukrainian War.
“If you understand what is going on today, it’s because you recognize the patterns of political culture,” explains Summers.
Lingering effects from the English Civil War helped create the divide that fueled Bacon’s Rebellion.
“The monarchy had been overthrown, the King was beheaded, Parliament won the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell is running the country and a lot of refugees — upper-class refugees — were coming to Virginia,” explained Summers.
“Looking at records, there is a rise in slave runaways, indentured servant revolts — riots if you will — I argue that people who were poor are aware of the things that happened in England.” Summers continued, “This backstory is important because you understand that the Virginia aristocracy is afraid of the majority of its population. And the people at the bottom somewhat recognize that if they keep being oppressed, there is something they can do about it.”
“In the back of Gov. Berkeley’s mind, he always thinks such people could overthrow and behead him too,” speculated Summers. “What you see is people talking about a Governor who they see as too old and too out of touch. We see such a political position amongst people today.”
Bacon felt he had been wronged and needed to seek his revenge. Described as “tall, handsome, and arrogant,” he quickly gains followers.
“On my tours, I talk about the idea of being condescending. In modern English terms condescending is insulting. But, in the time period we are talking about, condescending was a good term. It meant that someone in the upper class cares about the poor or pays attention to someone beneath them,” Summers said. “It would be like saying ‘King Charles bought me a beer!’ We do it all the time now with celebrities. ‘Look, that celebrity took a picture!’ So, even though we don’t like the word, we still have that same idea — someone rich, famous or powerful paid attention to me.”
As people begin to choose sides, it spawns a political rally.
“We have seen such political rallies. It’s a political rally of the people who are poor, feel threatened about violence on a border and are feeling like the government is out of touch. They wanted the Governor to authorize a militia. And, he wouldn’t give them that. He said he would build forts. But he has to raise their taxes to build those,” Summers explained.

“It is sort of like they are feeling like — we are poor, we are desperate, we’re on the frontier, we are dealing with this violence and you are old and out of touch and you are giving us forts and raising our taxes? We want revenge!” observes Summers.
On the other side, Berkeley was trying to avoid a war. The Governor was trying to maintain peace between the colonists and Native Americans while also implementing the king’s commandment, according to Encyclopedia Virginia.
By pushing back against Bacon’s militia Summers says, “Maybe this is exactly what he trying to avoid — a race war. A war of extermination.”
“The thing about Berkeley — he’s extremely snobby — but, he is personally a brave man. There is no way to take that away from him. Essentially he says (to Bacon), ‘go ahead and shoot me. I dare you. I know you won’t. But, if you do, I’m old and I’ll die a martyr.'” Summers emphasized, “This is somebody saying to the young buck, I knew the King. The Governor is elite. He wants Bacon to know he isn’t on the same level.”
And Berkeley’s fears were justified. When Bacon took his fight to the Doeg Indians, the militiamen also attacked the innocent Susquehannocks.
“The whole reason Bacon’s Rebellion happened — killing the Susquehannocks — it may be a similar thing to bombing Iran by accident when you meant a neighboring country. The Susquehannocks were powerful. They were a group you didn’t want to accidentally attack. They are warriors. You don’t want to pick a fight with them. They want justice.”
“So, people look for motivations, was Nathanial Bacon a self-interested political figure that just wants to enrich himself, or does he really care about the poor people he claims to represent? Or, could it be both? Human beings have complex political views, even now.”
Throughout history, both on American soil and abroad, economic, social, and political components repeatedly have led to civil unrest, tension and unease among those with differences. Sometimes, it has led to war.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” wrote George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905.
It is no different today than it was in 1676.
Visit Historic Jamestown to learn more about the history of the colony.