¶ … social, political and economic tensions that led to Bacon's Rebellion. Morgan begins to give the reader an idea of where all the tension begins, as well as a viewpoint to see that here lays a beginning to a possibly very nasty ending.
Bacon continued to conduct the crusade against Indians -- all Indians. He began by marching his men southward to a fort held by the Occaneechees on the Roanoke River near the present Carolina border. The friendly Occaneechees captured a number of Susquehannahs for him. After the prisoners had been killed, Bacon's men turned their guns on the Occaneechees and dispatched most of them too, thus demonstrating their evenhanded determination to exterminate Indians without regard to tribe or tribute. Upon returning, Bacon reiterated his loyalty to the governor. All he wanted, he said, was to make war "against all Indians in general," neglecting to add that friendly Indians were somewhat easier to catch than hostile ones, and made a satisfactory substitute as far as he and his men were concerned. (Morgan 259)
This is an example of one of the ways that Bacon perpetuated tension in the whole situation. He proved through his actions that there was no true purpose, that in fact it all seemed to happen because of a pure lack of respect for "all" Indians not just particular ones. As if just trying to give him and others a reason to seek the Indians out and destroy them at will.
With Berkeley's Declaration, not only Bacon but also all his followers and supporters became, by definition, rebels. They undoubtedly retained their zeal for killing Indians, but they were now invited to save a share of their hostility for the governor and council, the biggest men in Virginia. In a colony where the level of discontent was already so high...
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