This document discusses the changing economic and political landscape in the Chesapeake colonies between 1650-1700. It notes that true prosperity began after 1650 as indentured servitude became more viable and tobacco became highly profitable. This led to rapid expansion of farming lands. However, overproduction caused a tobacco market crash in the late 1600s. Additionally, the colonial and English governments imposed new taxes and regulations. Mounting tensions over these issues and Native American attacks culminated in Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. While the rebellion was suppressed, it highlighted growing unrest among freed indentured servants and small planters. The document argues that while Bacon's Rebellion was a catalyst, the transition to slavery was likely inevitable given immigration trends and the

2. 
 True Prosperity for both the colonial government
and tobacco growers began after 1650
 Indentured servants were more likely to survive their
term and gain both land and “Freedom Dues”
 Tobacco also began to reach a new level of profitability
 With this new level of prosperity came a dramatic
expansion of farmed land
 Farming in this period resembled slash and burn
techniques
 Farms were quickly spread and built and by 1665
occupied all of the best tobacco lands
Changing Chesapeake

3. 
 The increase in landowners and tobacco production led to
a depression of the market
 We also see both the colonial as well as English
governments push for new regulations and taxes
 The English Government establishes the navigation acts
 In 1641 Governor Berkeley is appointed and begins to
establish elitist laws
 Berkely also began to take advantage of his position in
both taxes as well as public land management
 By the mid 1670’s many of the recently freed indentured
servants began to express their anger with Berkeley
Problems After 1665

4. 
Bacons Rebellion
 Began by Nathaniel Bacon
against the Governor Berkeley in
1676
 Focused on four main issues
 Native American Attacks
 Low tobacco prices
 Oligarchic government
 Restrictions on voting rights
 Bacon gains massive amount of
popularity after his victories
against the Native Americans
allies of the Government
 Bacon and Berkeley face off
against each other
 Current and former indentured
servants join Bacon

5. 
 Bacon marches on Jamestown and Berkeley is forced to
flee
 Bacons supporters loot homes and lands of the loyalists
 All looked as if Bacon would overthrow the government
until his unexpected death on October 26th 1676
 Due to this Berkeley was able to reclaim the lost lands
 Berkeley then went on to abuse his reclaimed power at
the expense of rebel families
 King Charles eventually recalls Berkeley to England
End of the Rebellion

6. 
Do you think Bacon’s rebellion
was the main reason for the
transition to Slavery or was the
transition inevitable?
Discussion Question

7. 
 Because of the importance of the Tobacco trade to the
crown the King began to strengthen his power over
the colonies
 Fearing increased crown influence the leaders of
Virginia began to develop a more popular following
 We also see relations between the small and large
planters improved thanks to the rebound in tobacco
prices during the early 18th century
 The popularity of Bacon’s Indian policy was also
continued by the colonial leaders
Crown Reaction

8. 
 As the year 1700 approached we see a decrease in
English immigration and indentured servants
 In order to counteract the slowing English
immigration planters turned to African Slaves
 Slavery had been in place both in African and Europe
for Millennia
 Prices of slaves also began to justify their purchase
over indentured servants
 Legal changes also, most importantly the ending of
the Monopoly of the Royal African Company, pushed
this change
Rise of Slavery