Independence is the main desire of most of the citizens. Most wars and rebellions start because one of the states or nations wants to influence the other and to cut her independence in this or that manner. People are ready to struggle for their independence, to fight for their rights, and to win their liberty.
The topic we are going to discuss in the essay is how Bacons rebellion and king Philips war revealed strains both within colonial society and between colonists and Indians. For the start, let us analyze the causes and background of Bacons rebellion and King Philips war.
Bacons rebellion was immersed in 1676 in Virginia Colony and was led by Nathaniel Bacon. Nathaniel Bacon was a rich planter. He was chosen to protest against Native Americans. The rebellion also had its aim to get read by Royal Governor of Virginia, William Berkeley, who refused to retaliate against the Native Americans. There were many other problems that created tension between natives and colonists for some time. There were economical problems, the rise of prices, the restricted markets, and many others which created prerequisites for the future rebellion.
The rebellion did not succeed, but it had a great value. Bacons rebellion was the first time when the white poor and black poor were united in their aim to struggle for their liberty, without taking into consideration the racial prejudices, which caused many problems in that society.
King Philips War lasted for about one year (1675–1676). The problem, which caused the war, was land possession. Native American citizens of modern southern New England fought against English colonists and their Native American allies. The number of colonists increased all the time. First, it was not a problem, but then began conflicts on the territory subjects. The tension was also created by different cultures and ways of life. Metacom (Metacomet or Pometacom) was the protector of Native Americans. He was also known as Philip. The war is named after him as it was Philip who wanted to struggle for his rights.
The Philip’s war was the bloodiest in the history of America, as too many people were killed from both sides. It gave some topics for discussion to the government, but nothing more. The colonists won in that struggle and natives just aggravated their condition. Men were sent for slavery abroad and women and children were made to stay there but as servants.
These two rebellions did not have success in the turn of the winery, but they had a great social value. Both leaders made a great contribution to the political and social life of America in the last years of the XVII century. The rebellions were the signals to the government about their wrong policy in the colonies. Yes, the colonists won in those struggles but they still made some conclusions and understood what power had their opponents.
The Native Americans understood that they have the power to protect themselves only with the help of unity of their powers and desires. The one-time appearance of both these rebellions says that the problem existed not only in one separate colony but in all colonies, which were suffering from expansion. And there were no other ways to do that but to take the weapon and to fight with colonists in a bloody struggle.