Bacon's Rebellion and the African Slave Trade [AP U.S. History Review]

Summary

In this episode of 'Hime Lairs,' the focus is on the historical event of Jamestown's burning by Nathaniel Bacon in 1676. Bacon, a Virginia planter, led a rebellion against Governor William Berkeley due to inaction against Indian attacks. The chaos that ensued led to the search for a more reliable labor source, which pivoted towards African slavery. The script outlines the origins of African slavery in Virginia, the brutal Middle Passage, and the establishment of Black Codes that treated slaves as property. It also includes a harrowing first-hand account of the Middle Passage from Olaudah Equiano's narrative.

Takeaways

• 🔥 On September 19th, 1676, Jamestown was burned to the ground by Nathaniel Bacon and his followers, marking a significant event in American colonial history.
• 🤬 Nathaniel Bacon was a Virginia planter who led the rebellion due to his dissatisfaction with the governor's handling of Indian attacks on settlers.
• 🏰 The burning of Jamestown was a response to the perceived inaction of Governor William Berkeley towards the encroachment of Indians on settler lands.
• 👥 Bacon's rebellion involved a diverse group of individuals, including poor farmers and former indentured servants, reflecting the social tensions of the time.
• 🚨 The chaos and fear following Bacon's Rebellion led the wealthy planters to seek a more reliable and controllable labor force, which they found in the form of African slaves.
• 📈 The demand for slaves increased after the rebellion, with the African slave population in Virginia growing from 7% in 1670 to about half of the population by 1750.
• 🛳 The African slaves were captured by African slavers and endured the brutal Middle Passage across the Atlantic, characterized by inhumane conditions and high mortality rates.
• 🔗 The establishment of Black Codes in the South legally distinguished between the rights and treatment of white and black people, further entrenching the institution of slavery.
• 📚 The narrative of Olaudah Equiano provides a firsthand account of the horrors of the Middle Passage, illustrating the dehumanizing experiences of enslaved Africans.
• ⛓ The chattel status of slaves, as defined by the Black Codes, meant that they were considered property, and their children inherited this status from their mothers.

Q & A

What event is described as having occurred on September 19th, 1676, in Jamestown?

On September 19th, 1676, the colonial settlement of Jamestown was burned to the ground in a devastating fire.

Who is identified as the individual responsible for burning Jamestown?

Nathaniel Bacon, a Virginia planter, is identified as the individual responsible for burning Jamestown.

What was Nathaniel Bacon's motivation for attacking Jamestown?

Bacon was motivated by his frustration with the encroachment of Indians on his land and Governor William Berkeley's inaction against the Indian attacks on the westernmost citizens.

How did Bacon's actions inspire others and lead to chaos in the colony?

Bacon's actions inspired other frustrated freedmen and indentured servants to riot and plunder, leading to widespread chaos in the colony.

What was the long-term impact of Bacon's Rebellion on the labor dynamics in the American colonies?

The rebellion led to the wealthy colonists seeking a more reliable source of labor, which eventually led them to turn to Africa for slaves.

What percentage of the Virginia population was made up of African slaves by 1750?

By 1750, African slaves made up about half of the population in Virginia.

Who were the primary captors of Africans for the transatlantic slave trade?

Most of the African slaves were captured by black African slavers who profited from the trade.

What was the term used to describe slaves in the American colonies, and what did it signify?

Slaves were referred to as 'chattel,' which is another word for property, signifying their status as owned entities.

What were 'Black Codes' and how did they differentiate between the rights of white and black people?

Black Codes were laws established in the South that made sharp distinctions between what was lawful for white people and what was lawful for black people, treating black people as property with limited rights.

What is the 'Middle Passage' and why was it considered brutal and deadly?

The 'Middle Passage' refers to the journey of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas. It was considered brutal and deadly due to the inhumane conditions, including overcrowding, disease, and mistreatment, which led to high mortality rates.

What is a first-hand account of the Middle Passage mentioned in the script, and who is its author?

The first-hand account mentioned is from 'The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African,' written by himself in 1789.

Outlines

00:00

🔥 The Burning of Jamestown and Its Impact on Slavery

This paragraph discusses the historical event of Jamestown's burning on September 19th, 1676, by Nathaniel Bacon, a Virginia planter frustrated with the governor's inaction against Indian attacks. Bacon's rebellion, which involved killing Indians and setting Jamestown ablaze, led to a period of chaos and fear among the wealthy colonists. This fear prompted them to seek a more reliable labor force, eventually turning to African slavery. The paragraph also provides historical context, noting that by 1750, African slaves made up about half of Virginia's population, and describes the brutal conditions of the Middle Passage that slaves endured.

05:01

🚢 Olaudah Equiano's Firsthand Account of the Middle Passage

The second paragraph presents a firsthand account from Olaudah Equiano, detailing the horrors of the Middle Passage. Equiano describes his initial astonishment and subsequent terror upon being taken aboard a slave ship. He recounts the unbearable stench, overcrowding, and the brutal treatment he received, including being flogged when he refused to eat. The narrative paints a vivid picture of the suffering and dehumanization experienced by slaves during this treacherous journey across the Atlantic.

Keywords

💡Jamestown

Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in America, established in Virginia in 1607. In the video, Jamestown is central to the narrative as it was burned down during Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. This event marks a turning point that influenced the colonial elite to shift towards African slavery as a more controllable labor source.

💡Bacon's Rebellion

Bacon's Rebellion was an armed uprising in 1676 led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley in Virginia. The rebellion, fueled by settlers' frustrations over land disputes and lack of government protection against Native American attacks, culminated in the burning of Jamestown. This event highlighted the dangers of relying on indentured servants and contributed to the increased use of African slaves.

💡Nathaniel Bacon

Nathaniel Bacon was a Virginia planter who led Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. He opposed the policies of Governor Berkeley and incited other disgruntled settlers to revolt. Bacon's actions, including the burning of Jamestown, exemplified the growing tensions between the colonial elite and the poorer classes, influencing the shift towards African slavery as a more reliable labor source.

💡African Slavery

African slavery refers to the forced labor system where Africans were captured, sold, and brought to the Americas as slaves. The video explains how the fear generated by Bacon's Rebellion prompted wealthy landowners to seek a more dependable labor force, leading to the widespread adoption of African slavery in the colonies, particularly in Virginia.

💡Middle Passage

The Middle Passage was the horrific sea journey endured by enslaved Africans being transported to the Americas. The video describes the brutal conditions on slave ships, where overcrowding, disease, and mistreatment led to high mortality rates. This passage was a central element of the transatlantic slave trade, reflecting the extreme human cost of slavery.

💡Black Codes

Black Codes were laws enacted in the Southern colonies to regulate the behavior of enslaved and free Black people, severely restricting their rights and freedoms. The video mentions these codes as part of the institutionalization of slavery, where they defined enslaved individuals as property and established racial distinctions that entrenched slavery in the legal system.

💡Indentured Servants

Indentured servants were individuals, often Europeans, who worked for a specified number of years in exchange for passage to America, food, and shelter. In the context of the video, the reliance on indentured servants proved problematic during Bacon’s Rebellion, prompting landowners to seek African slaves as a more controlled labor source.

💡William Berkeley

William Berkeley was the Governor of Virginia during Bacon's Rebellion. His refusal to protect settlers from Native American attacks and his perceived favoritism towards the wealthy elite sparked the uprising. The rebellion underscored the growing tensions between the ruling class and poorer settlers, influencing colonial policies towards labor and slavery.

💡Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano was a formerly enslaved African who wrote about his experiences in 'The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano.' The video references his account to illustrate the horrors of the Middle Passage and the brutal realities of slavery, providing a personal perspective on the dehumanizing conditions enslaved Africans faced.

💡Chattel Slavery

Chattel slavery is a system where enslaved individuals are considered the personal property of their owners, with no rights or freedoms. The video discusses how Black Codes legally defined Black people as chattel, ensuring that their status as slaves—and that of their descendants—was perpetuated, reinforcing a rigid racial hierarchy.

Highlights

On September 19th, 1676, the colonial settlement of Jamestown was burned down.

The destruction of Jamestown was total, with not even the church spared.

Nathaniel Bacon, a Virginia planter, led the rebellion against the governor and the Indians.

Bacon's Rebellion involved killing Indians and chasing Governor Berkeley from Jamestown.

The rebellion led to chaos in the colony, with freedmen and indentured servants rioting and plundering.

Bacon died of dysentery, and the rebellion ended without a leader.

The rich colonists became fearful of the poor and angry population after the rebellion.

Colonists sought a more reliable source of labor, turning to Africa for slaves.

By 1670, there were about 2,000 slaves in Virginia, making up 7% of the population.

By 1750, African slaves made up about half of the population in Virginia.

Most African slaves were captured by black African slavers and sold to European merchants.

The Middle Passage was a brutal and deadly journey for slaves across the Atlantic.

Upon arrival in North America, slaves were auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Many colonists disapproved of slavery, with the Mennonites of Germantown protesting against it.

Southern plantation owners defended slavery, claiming slaves were not human.

Black Codes were established, making sharp distinctions between the rights of white and black people.

Slaves were considered chattel, or property, and their children inherited their status.

Olaudah Equiano's first-hand account of the Middle Passage describes the horror of the journey.

Equiano's narrative details the overcrowding, stench, and sickness that led to many deaths among slaves.

The account ends with a vivid description of the inhumane conditions and the suffering of the slaves.

Transcripts

hi there and welcome back to hime lairs

history we've been talking about the

colonial settlement of Jamestown and on

September 19th 1676 that colonial

settlement of Jamestown burst into

flames now there was an unknown

eyewitness to the fire and the

eyewitness said of he who burned

Jamestown he in the most barbarous

manner converts the whole town into

flames cinders and ashes not so much as

sparing the church and the first that

ever was in Virginia so the destruction

was total and devastating and I want to

try to explain to you how the burning of

Jamestown eventually led to that scourge

of the American conscience African

slavery so if you're feeling down and

you need a real pick-me-up you should go

somewhere else time to kick it old

school

[Music]

okay so who was it that converted the

whole of Jamestown into flames

meet Nathaniel bacon who was a Virginia

planter who was just as salty as the

breakfast meat that bears his name you

need to know that bacon was not very

fond of the Indians who were encroaching

on his land from the West and he was

even less fond of William Berkeley the

governor of Virginia who could not be

bothered to do anything about the

constant attacks from the Indians on his

westernmost citizens so bacon was fed up

with this and he gathered about a

thousand poor and angry farmers most of

whom were former indentured servants

marched to Jamestown killing both

friendly and hostile Indians on the way

chased Berkeley from the city and put

Jamestown to the torch that action

inspired other frustrated freedmen and

indentured servants to go rioting and

plundering and very soon the colony was

in chaos now shortly thereafter bacon

died of dysentery probably and without

their leaders the rebellion quickly died

out now this rebellion wouldn't be all

that important to American history

except that it got the rich folks

worried and anxious about all those

shiftless and angry poor folks it got

them so fearful in fact that they began

to look for a better and more reliable

source of labor and so they turned their

eyes to Africa now you'll recall that

the first ship carrying merchants who

hocked flesh instead of goods landed in

Jamestown in 1619 and by 1670 which is

six years before Bacon's Rebellion there

were about 2,000 slaves in Virginia

which was about 7% of the population but

by 1750 African slaves made up about

half of the population in Virginia now

most of the African slaves who reached

the shores of America came from the west

coast of Africa and were captured not by

those crazy white people but by black

African slavers who profited enormous ly

off the deal the captives were then

branded with hot irons bound with chains

and then herded on to a ship to endure

what historians have come to call the

Middle Passage across the Atlantic which

was brutal and deadly now once they

arrived in North America the slaves were

made to stand on auction blocks where

their bodies were awarded to the highest

bidder now the vast majority of these

slaves were sent to the West Indies to

work in the sweltering sugar fields but

a growing number headed to the British

colonies now you should know that not

all the colonists approved of such a

practice in fact the Mennonites of

Germantown Pennsylvania protested loudly

saying there's a saying that we should

do to all men like as we will be done

ourselves but to bring men hither or to

rob and sell them against their will we

stand against prey what thing in the

world can be done worse toward us than

if men should rob or steal us away sell

us for slaves to a strange country

separating husbands from their wives and

children to which the plantation owners

in the South retorted well it's good

thing they ain't human else we'd have to

obey the Lord on that one

and so it's here that laws begin to be

established in the South called Black

Codes which made sharp distinctions

between what was lawful for white people

and what was lawful for black people

according to these codes black people

became chattel which is another word for

property and maybe most devastating of

all the codes stated that children of

slaves would belong to their owners

which is almost unheard of in the

history of slavery and we'll have plenty

more to say about slavery as an

institution in other lectures but for

now I'd be remiss if I didn't read to

you from a first-hand account of one of

the slaves who survived the Middle

Passage this is from a work called the

interesting narrative of the life of

Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vasa the

African written by himself 1789 and I'd

like to read it to you at length so that

you get a real sense of the horror of

the Middle Passage the first object

which saluted my eyes when I arrived on

the coast was the sea and a slave ship

which was then riding at anchor and

waiting for its cargo these filled me

with astonishment which was soon

converted into terror when I was carried

on board

I was now persuaded that I had gotten

into a world of bad spirits and that

they were going to kill me I was soon

put under the decks and there I received

such a salutation in my nostrils as I

had never experienced in my life so that

with the loathsomeness of the stench and

crying together I became so sick and low

that I was not able to eat

nor had I the least desire to taste

anything I now wished for the last

friend death to relieve me but soon to

my grief two of the white men offered me

eatables and on my refusing to eat one

of them held me fast by the hands and

laid me across I think the windlass and

tied my feet while the other flogged me

severely I had never experienced

anything of this kind before and

although not being used to the water i

naturally feared that element the first

time I saw it yet nevertheless

could I have gotten over the nettings I

would have jumped over the side but I

could not at last when the ship had got

in all her cargo they made ready and we

were all put under the deck the stench

of the whole while we were on the coast

was so intolerably loathesome that it

was dangerous to remain there for any

time and some of us had been permitted

to stay on deck for fresh air but now

that the whole ships cargo were confined

together it became absolutely

pestilential the closeness of the place

and the heat of the climate added to the

number in the ship which was so crowded

that each had scarcely room to turn

himself almost suffocated us this

produced copious perspiration so that

the air soon became unfit for

respiration from a variety of loads and

smells and brought on a sickness among

the slaves of which many died thus

falling victims to the improvident

avarice of their purchasers the shrieks

of the women in the groans of the dying

rendered the whole a scene of horror

almost inconceivable and to that I can

add nothing so we'll leave it there and

I will see you next time