The Importance of Rebellions in Early America
Justin Royce
US History (A)
10-10-12
The Importance of Rebellions in Early America
Many people think rebellions are a bad thing. Those people probably do not know that there were three rebellions that would change America for the better. The three rebellions happened in three key states/colonies. Shays’ Rebellion was in Massachusetts, the Whiskey Rebellion was in Pennsylvania and Bacon’ Rebellion was in the colony of Virginia. The most important rebellion was Shays’ Rebellion because it gave this country the need for a stronger central government.
The least important rebellion in this country was Bacon’s Rebellion because it really did not do much at the time. Bacon’s Rebellion was a thousand Virginians who rose up against the rule of Virginia Governor William Berkeley. Berkeley had recently refused to retaliate for Indian attacks on western Virginia settlements. This prompted some to take matters into their own hands, attacking Native Americans, chasing Berkeley from Jamestown. They also torched the capital. Bacon’s and Shays’ Rebellion have a lot in common in the fact that both of the rebellions were started by farmers who were fed up with the government. Another reason why Bacon’s Rebellion is not that important because at the time there was no United States and it did not affect any other colonies.
The second most important rebellion in this country was The Whiskey Rebellion. The Whiskey Rebellion was important because it was the first time the government had to show its power. The Whiskey Rebellion was a tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791, during the presidency of George Washington. Farmers who sold their grain in the form of whiskey had to pay a new tax which they strongly resented. The tax was a part of treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton's program to pay off the national debt. On the western frontier, protesters used violence and intimidation to prevent federal officials from collecting the tax. Resistance came to a climax
US History (A)
10-10-12
The Importance of Rebellions in Early America
Many people think rebellions are a bad thing. Those people probably do not know that there were three rebellions that would change America for the better. The three rebellions happened in three key states/colonies. Shays’ Rebellion was in Massachusetts, the Whiskey Rebellion was in Pennsylvania and Bacon’ Rebellion was in the colony of Virginia. The most important rebellion was Shays’ Rebellion because it gave this country the need for a stronger central government.
The least important rebellion in this country was Bacon’s Rebellion because it really did not do much at the time. Bacon’s Rebellion was a thousand Virginians who rose up against the rule of Virginia Governor William Berkeley. Berkeley had recently refused to retaliate for Indian attacks on western Virginia settlements. This prompted some to take matters into their own hands, attacking Native Americans, chasing Berkeley from Jamestown. They also torched the capital. Bacon’s and Shays’ Rebellion have a lot in common in the fact that both of the rebellions were started by farmers who were fed up with the government. Another reason why Bacon’s Rebellion is not that important because at the time there was no United States and it did not affect any other colonies.
The second most important rebellion in this country was The Whiskey Rebellion. The Whiskey Rebellion was important because it was the first time the government had to show its power. The Whiskey Rebellion was a tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791, during the presidency of George Washington. Farmers who sold their grain in the form of whiskey had to pay a new tax which they strongly resented. The tax was a part of treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton's program to pay off the national debt. On the western frontier, protesters used violence and intimidation to prevent federal officials from collecting the tax. Resistance came to a climax