The Declaration of the People of Virginia, or simply the Declaration of the People, was a list of complaints issued by Nathaniel Bacon on July 30, 1676, in which he proclaimed Virginia's colonial governor, William Berkeley, to be corrupt and expressed his displeasure at what his followers regarded as unjust taxation and the government's failure to provide colonists protection from some tribes of American Indians. The presumed grievances brought about the uprising known as Bacon's Rebellion. This Rebellion was regarded as the first of the new colonies. Whether Bacon's Rebellion was serving the interest of the colonists, or the King, continues to be debated. The Declaration and the Rebellion as a whole was a long time coming and was the result of a crisis within Virginia's social, economic, and political problems.

Eight points

The Declaration authored by Bacon cited eight points in its complaint against the governor:

  1. Taxation (point 1): Governor Berkeley was accused of excessive taxation and having "upon specious pretenses of public works, raised great unjust taxes upon the commonalty for the advancement of private favorites and other sinister ends, but no visible effects in any measure adequate"
  2. Judicial corruption (point 2): "For having abused and rendered contemptible the magistrates of justice by advancing to places of judicature scandalous and ignorant favorites"
  3. Personal enrichment (point 3): Berkeley was said to be "assuming monopoly of the beaver trade"
  4. Failure to protect the colonists (point 4): "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."
  5. Ceasing the hostilities and pursuit of natives (point 5): "For having, when the army of English was just upon the track of those Indians, who now in all places burn, spoil, murder and when we might with ease have destroyed them who then were in open hostility, for then having expressly countermanded and sent back our army by passing his word for the peaceable demeanor of the said Indians".

Names listed included:

  • Sir Henry Chichley,
  • William Claiborne Junior,
  • Lt. Col. Christopher Wormeley,
  • Thomas Hawkins,
  • William Sherwood,
  • Philip Ludwell,
  • John Page, Clerke,
  • Robert Beverley,
  • John Cluffe, Clerke,
  • Richard Lee II,
  • John West,
  • Thomas Ballard,
  • Hubert Farrell,
  • William Cole,
  • Thomas Reade,
  • Richard Whitacre (Whitaker),
  • Matthew Kempe,
  • Nicholas Spencer, and
  • Joseph Bridger

Bacon made sure to shame the persons involved by mentioning the King and how the acts of those named had been tyrannical. He contended that those named had been enemies of the people of Virginia and of the King and the Crown. Bacon and his Rebellion felt that before they were to attack and cause an uprising against Sir Berkeley's administration, a treaty would be in order to give the administration a chance to surrender.</blockquote>

The Declaration was signed "Nathaniel Bacon, General by Consent of the people."

See also

  • Bacon's Laws
  • Virginia Slave Codes of 1705

Bibliography

  • Text of the Declaration
  • "Bacon's Declaration in the Name of the People 30 July 1676." American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2016.
  • "Bacon's Declaration in the Name of the People 1676. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2017, from constitution.org
  • "Bacon's Declaration in the Name of the People 30 July 1676. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2017, from let.rug.nl
  • "Virginia Historical Society. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2017, vahistorical.org

References