History Timeline of Bacon's Rebellion |
| 1641 | Sir William Berkeley replaces Sir Francis Wyatt as Governor of Virginia in 1641. Sir William Berkeley was governor of the colony of Virginia from 1641–1652
| |
| 1646 | The Powhatan chief, Necotowance, signed the 1646 Peace Treaty ending the Powhatan Wars . The result of the treaty was a boundary, or racial frontier, between the Indians and English lands that could only be crossed for official business with a special pass. 1646 Treaty Map The Red line shows boundary between the Virginia Colony and the Powhatan Indian tribes, as established by the Treaty of 1646
| |
| 1649 | The execution of King Charles I and England is ruled by Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans | |
| 1652 | Berkeley was deposed by a Puritan force from England and lived on his Virginia plantation. until the Restoration in 1660, when he was reappointed governor
| |
| 1660 | The monarchy is restored in England under King Charles II and Sir William Berkeley was reappointed Governor of Virginia
| |
| 1674 | Nathaniel Bacon, a wealthy, aristocratic Englishman arrives, with his wife at the Virginia Colony. He purchases the Curles Neck tobacco Plantation in Henrico County which is located about 30 miles upriver on the north bank of the James River (see above map)
| |
| 1674/5 | Nathaniel Bacon trades with local Indians in competition with Sir William Berkeley. There is fierce rivalry between the two men.
| |
| 1675 | March 3, 1675 - Sir William Berkeley appoints the wealthy and influential Nathaniel Bacon as one of several new members of the Virginia Council of State
| |
| 1675 | Farmers demanded that Powhatan Indians are removed from their treaty-protected lands. The resentment of the Indians leads to a series of conflicts with the Doeg tribe. 14 friendly Susquehannock indians, who are loyal to the English, are killed
| |
| 1675 | The Susquehannock launch a series of retaliatory raids
| |
| 1675 | September: John Washington, the great-grandfather of George Washington , leads a party from Virginia into Maryland, and with Maryland militia, surround a large Susquehannock fortified village
| |
| 1675 | November: The Susquehannock held out for six weeks. When five chiefs came out to parley, the colonists attacked and killed them
| |
| 1676 | March: Governor Berkeley, wishing to avoid a war, advocates a policy of containment of the Native Americans and proposes the building of new forts. The decision is fiercely criticised by some colonists who believe the Indians should be removed and that the Governor has made the proposal in order to increase taxes
| |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion Spring: Colonists, including Nathaniel Bacon, were furious at the prospect of a rise in taxes, the low prices for tobacco and resented the special privileges given those close to the governor. Many colonists also believed that Berkeley was failing to defend the frontier against attacks by Native Indians.
| | |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion Spring: Nathaniel Bacon, as the leader of militiamen in the upper reaches of the James River valley, goes against the governor's instructions and prepares to attack friendly Indians
| |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion Spring: Nathaniel Bacon leads two unauthorized, but successful, expeditions against the tribes
| |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion Spring: Nathaniel Bacon is elected to the new House of Burgesses | |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion May: Sir William Berkeley expels Nathaniel Bacon from the Council, brands him a rebel and has him arrested but Bacon is soon released
| |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion June 6: Nathaniel Bacon, backed by an armed force, returns to Jamestown, is arrested and apologizes for his rebellion. Sir William Berkeley pardons Nathaniel Bacon but with reservations
| |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion June 23: Nathaniel Bacon returns to Jamestown with 500 armed men ready to launch an attack against the Indians. Sir William Berkeley yields to his demands
| |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion July: Sir William Berkeley changes his mind about Nathaniel Bacon and declares him a traitor and recruits men to fight Bacon's rebellion
| |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion July 30, 1676, Nathaniel Bacon and his army issue the "Declaration of the People of Virginia."
| |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion : Sir William Berkeley fails to raise a force against Nathaniel Bacon and flees to the Eastern Shore where he gains support and returns to Jamestown
| |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion September 18: Nathaniel Bacon recaptures the capital and Berkeley again takes flight.
| |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion September 19: Nathaniel Bacon, fearing that he could not hold Jamestown against attack, sets fire to the town
| |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion October 26: Nathaniel Bacon now controls the colony, but he dies suddenly of dysentery | |
| 1676 | Bacon's Rebellion October 27: King Charles II of England signs a proclamation to squash the rebellion in Virginia
| |
| 1676 | The rebellion continues but without the strong leadership of Nathaniel Bacon | |
| 1676 | December: Sir John Berry and Francis Moryson with armed forces in England are commissioned to put down Bacon's Rebellion and investigate its causes
| |
| 1677 | The rebellion falls apart. The rebel army surrenders when promised amnesty. 23 rebel colonists were are tried and hanged by Governor Berkeley in direct defiance of the crown. Nathaniel Bacon was found guilty of treason and his property was confiscated by the Crown. This ends Bacon's rebellion
| |
| 1677 | The commissioners from England report that both sides of Bacon's rebellion should share the blame and Sir William Berkeley returns to England
| |
| 1677 | July 9, 1677- Sir William Berkeley dies before he can gain an audience with King Charles | |
History Timeline of Bacon's Rebellion |