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Difficulty: MediumEuropean and American Indian Relations

"For having protected, favored, and emboldened the Indians against his Majesty’s loyal subjects, never contriving, requiring, or appointing any due or proper means of satisfaction for their many invasions, robberies, and murders committed upon us; but on the contrary, commanding the respective counties not to hurt or molest them..."

— Nathaniel Bacon, "Declaration in the Name of the People," 1676

Based on the excerpt, the sentiments expressed by Nathaniel Bacon highlight which of the following tensions in the Chesapeake region during the late seventeenth century?

  1. The conflict between frontier settlers seeking land expansion and colonial elites prioritizing peaceful trade relationsAnswer
  2. B
    The dispute over whether to establish segregated 'praying towns' or integrate Native Americans into colonial agricultural communities
  3. C
    The debate over transitioning from the Spanish encomienda system to a system of localized Native American tribute
  4. D
    The colonial resistance to imperial trade regulations that restricted raw tobacco sales to Native American merchants

Answer

The conflict between frontier settlers seeking land expansion and colonial elites prioritizing peaceful trade relations
The correct answer is correct because Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 arose from a conflict between Virginia's frontier settlers—many of whom were former indentured servants struggling to acquire fertile land—and Governor William Berkeley's administration. The settlers wanted the colonial government to aggressively remove Native Americans from the frontier to make way for tobacco farming, whereas the wealthy plantation owners and colonial officials preferred to protect the profitable fur trade by maintaining peaceful treaties with local tribes.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical context and authorship of the stimulus.
The excerpt is from Nathaniel Bacon's 1676 Declaration, representing the grievances of frontier settlers in Virginia (Chesapeake) during Bacon's Rebellion.
Understanding who wrote the source and when helps identify the specific regional dynamics and economic pressures at play.
2
Identify the core complaint directed at the colonial government in the text.
Bacon accuses Governor Berkeley of protecting Native Americans ('protected, favored, and emboldened the Indians') and restricting settlers from retaliating against them ('commanding the respective counties not to hurt or molest them').
This identifies the central tension between the colonial administration and the frontier colonists.
3
Link the complaint to the broader socio-economic conflict in seventeenth-century Virginia.
The Governor sought to maintain peaceful relations to secure the fur trade, while the growing population of landless whites and small farmers demanded aggressive expansion into Native American lands for tobacco farming.
This connects the primary source's grievances to the correct historical explanation of the conflict between frontier settlers and colonial elites.

Key Concept

Chesapeake colonial-indigenous relations and internal social conflicts
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

European and American Indian Relations

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