- [Instructor] So in the last video we were talking about
- [Instructor] So in the last video we were talking about

the system of labor in the Chesapeake area,
the system of labor in the Chesapeake area,

surrounding the Chesapeake Bay,
surrounding the Chesapeake Bay,

in the early English colonies in America.
in the early English colonies in America.

And one thing that seemed a little bit strange there
And one thing that seemed a little bit strange there

was that even though the first ship with enslaved Africans
was that even though the first ship with enslaved Africans

arrived in Virginia in 1619,
arrived in Virginia in 1619,

slavery wasn't actually the dominant form of labor
slavery wasn't actually the dominant form of labor

in Virginia until much later, in the late 1600s.
in Virginia until much later, in the late 1600s.

In fact, the vast majority of laborers in Virginia
In fact, the vast majority of laborers in Virginia

were in fact white indentured servants.
were in fact white indentured servants.

And these indentured servants would come from England,
And these indentured servants would come from England,

and the planter that they proposed to work for
and the planter that they proposed to work for

would pay their passage across the Atlantic.
would pay their passage across the Atlantic.

And in exchange the servant would
And in exchange the servant would

agree to work for that planter
agree to work for that planter

for a period of three to seven years.
for a period of three to seven years.

And this is an example of what
And this is an example of what

one of these indentures might have looked like.
one of these indentures might have looked like.

It's in old-timey writing, so it's a little hard to see,
It's in old-timey writing, so it's a little hard to see,

but here you can see that there's three years
but here you can see that there's three years

is the amount of time that this person promises.
is the amount of time that this person promises.

This is from Pennsylvania.
This is from Pennsylvania.

Kinda gives you a good sense of how someone would say,
Kinda gives you a good sense of how someone would say,

"Alright I'm gonna work for this person for this long,
"Alright I'm gonna work for this person for this long,

"in exchange for my passage,
"in exchange for my passage,

"and it's a contract."
"and it's a contract."

And this was a pretty good deal for planters
And this was a pretty good deal for planters

because for every person that they
because for every person that they

brought over from England,
brought over from England,

they got another 50 acres of land,
they got another 50 acres of land,

meaning that if you had the money to bring over
meaning that if you had the money to bring over

quite a few servants,
quite a few servants,

you could expand your landholdings very fast.
you could expand your landholdings very fast.

And the other good thing about this,
And the other good thing about this,

at least in terms of the planters
at least in terms of the planters

was that these indentured servants
was that these indentured servants

had a pretty high rate of death.
had a pretty high rate of death.

It was not healthy to live in this swampy area of Virginia.
It was not healthy to live in this swampy area of Virginia.

So quite frequently, planters didn't actually have to
So quite frequently, planters didn't actually have to

make good on their promise
make good on their promise

to set these indentured servants up
to set these indentured servants up

with some land of their own, some tools to work it,
with some land of their own, some tools to work it,

because they didn't survive through their indenture.
because they didn't survive through their indenture.

So if this system of indentured servitude,
So if this system of indentured servitude,

and the headright system that gave planters more land
and the headright system that gave planters more land

for bringing over more servants,
for bringing over more servants,

was working out so well for them,
was working out so well for them,

why did African slavery become
why did African slavery become

the dominant form of labor
the dominant form of labor

in Virginia, starting about 1700?
in Virginia, starting about 1700?

Now when we think about tobacco cultivation,
Now when we think about tobacco cultivation,

and later, cotton cultivation,
and later, cotton cultivation,

in the American south before the Civil War,
in the American south before the Civil War,

what we think of is enslaved African laborers.
what we think of is enslaved African laborers.

And indeed, by the year 1700,
And indeed, by the year 1700,

about 15% of the population living in Virginia
about 15% of the population living in Virginia

was enslaved Africans,
was enslaved Africans,

going from just a handful at the beginning of the century.
going from just a handful at the beginning of the century.

So what caused this incredible transition
So what caused this incredible transition

in not only labor, but also racism,
in not only labor, but also racism,

to happen in early America?
to happen in early America?

Well there's one major event that historians
Well there's one major event that historians

tend to point to as a turning point in American slavery.
tend to point to as a turning point in American slavery.

And that is the rebellion led by Nathaniel Bacon in 1676.
And that is the rebellion led by Nathaniel Bacon in 1676.

So let's talk a little bit more about that.
So let's talk a little bit more about that.

So to understand Bacon's rebellion,
So to understand Bacon's rebellion,

we have to backtrack a little bit,
we have to backtrack a little bit,

and talk about the development of political power
and talk about the development of political power

and tobacco in Virginia.
and tobacco in Virginia.

So in 1619, the Virginia Company established
So in 1619, the Virginia Company established

the first government in Virginia.
the first government in Virginia.

It was called the House of Burgesses.
It was called the House of Burgesses.

And this is really important because it is, in effect,
And this is really important because it is, in effect,

the first at least semi-democratic form of government
the first at least semi-democratic form of government

in the new world.
in the new world.

In a way, it's kind of like a parliament
In a way, it's kind of like a parliament

that was set up for Virginia
that was set up for Virginia

so that they could debate local issues.
so that they could debate local issues.

And it's going to be the House of Burgesses
And it's going to be the House of Burgesses

and its later House of Delegates
and its later House of Delegates

that ends up leading the charge for the American Revolution
that ends up leading the charge for the American Revolution

more than a century later than this.
more than a century later than this.

But as we think about the way that political power
But as we think about the way that political power

was distributed in Virginia,
was distributed in Virginia,

you can guess who might have a lot of say
you can guess who might have a lot of say

in the House of Burgesses,
in the House of Burgesses,

and these are the tobacco planters.
and these are the tobacco planters.

So the government of Virginia,
So the government of Virginia,

although it is a democracy of these land-owning men,
although it is a democracy of these land-owning men,

is still got most of the power at the very top.
is still got most of the power at the very top.

'Cause as we talked about in the last video,
'Cause as we talked about in the last video,

the power system in Virginia looked like
the power system in Virginia looked like

a handful of planters at the top,
a handful of planters at the top,

a very small number of
a very small number of

free white farmers
free white farmers

who had their own land, but nothing like the gigantic
who had their own land, but nothing like the gigantic

tracts of tobacco plantations that the planters had,
tracts of tobacco plantations that the planters had,

then a whole lot of white indentured servants,
then a whole lot of white indentured servants,

who have very little political power,
who have very little political power,

since they are at basically the mercy of the planters.
since they are at basically the mercy of the planters.

And then, just a tiny handful of black slaves.
And then, just a tiny handful of black slaves.

And in this time period, white indentured servants
And in this time period, white indentured servants

and black slaves, black free people, also a tiny number,
and black slaves, black free people, also a tiny number,

didn't have that much difference
didn't have that much difference

when it came to political rights.
when it came to political rights.

In fact, white indentured servants frequently complained
In fact, white indentured servants frequently complained

that they felt that slaves were treated better than them.
that they felt that slaves were treated better than them.

Which may have been the case, because they were worth more.
Which may have been the case, because they were worth more.

Remember they were worth hundreds of pounds,
Remember they were worth hundreds of pounds,

whereas white indentured servants
whereas white indentured servants

cost just a couple of pounds to come over, frequently died,
cost just a couple of pounds to come over, frequently died,

so they were less of an investment than slaves.
so they were less of an investment than slaves.

The other important factor here
The other important factor here

is just what it takes to grow tobacco.
is just what it takes to grow tobacco.

Tobacco is a labor-intensive crop, we know,
Tobacco is a labor-intensive crop, we know,

but it's also kind of a crop that is extremely hard
but it's also kind of a crop that is extremely hard

on the soil.
on the soil.

It depletes the soil fast.
It depletes the soil fast.

Which means that there is a constant need for new soil.
Which means that there is a constant need for new soil.

And when you're coming from the coast,
And when you're coming from the coast,

here's our Atlantic Ocean over here,
here's our Atlantic Ocean over here,

and this is Virginia,
and this is Virginia,

and our Jamestown colony along the River James,
and our Jamestown colony along the River James,

more and more planters, as they come over,
more and more planters, as they come over,

remember we have this headright system,
remember we have this headright system,

we have a system that says that if indentured servants
we have a system that says that if indentured servants

finish out the terms of their indenture,
finish out the terms of their indenture,

they get land of their own,
they get land of their own,

means there is constant pressure to add more and more land
means there is constant pressure to add more and more land

so you can farm more and more tobacco.
so you can farm more and more tobacco.

And you start going farther and farther into the interior.
And you start going farther and farther into the interior.

So what does this mean?
So what does this mean?

It means that land becomes relatively scarce pretty fast.
It means that land becomes relatively scarce pretty fast.

And it also means that as white settlers
And it also means that as white settlers

continue to move west toward the Appalachian mountains,
continue to move west toward the Appalachian mountains,

which are over here,
which are over here,

I hope you enjoy this beautiful map,
I hope you enjoy this beautiful map,

it's certainly a work of art,
it's certainly a work of art,

they are running up against more and more anger and conflict
they are running up against more and more anger and conflict

with Native Americans who are living
with Native Americans who are living

in between the coast and the Appalachian mountains.
in between the coast and the Appalachian mountains.

And now it's definitely in the interest of
And now it's definitely in the interest of

the House of Burgesses, the government here at Jamestown,
the House of Burgesses, the government here at Jamestown,

to make sure that there is as little conflict
to make sure that there is as little conflict

with Native Americans as possible.
with Native Americans as possible.

Remember we had these wars of extinction with the Powhatans.
Remember we had these wars of extinction with the Powhatans.

That wasn't a fun time for anyone.
That wasn't a fun time for anyone.

And so the House of Burgesses,
And so the House of Burgesses,

which is now somewhat responsible to the King of England,
which is now somewhat responsible to the King of England,

since he acquired it from the Virginia Company
since he acquired it from the Virginia Company

as a royal colony in 1624,
as a royal colony in 1624,

they have a relatively friendly attitude
they have a relatively friendly attitude

toward the Native Americans.
toward the Native Americans.

They're hoping to avoid conflict.
They're hoping to avoid conflict.

And so their governor,
And so their governor,

Governor William Berkeley,
Governor William Berkeley,

spelled Berkeley but pronounced Barkley, I don't know why.
spelled Berkeley but pronounced Barkley, I don't know why.

He refuses to take on another war of extinction
He refuses to take on another war of extinction

against the Native Americans,
against the Native Americans,

which makes a lot of white servants and white freeman
which makes a lot of white servants and white freeman

pretty angry.
pretty angry.

It's the late 1600s now,
It's the late 1600s now,

and more and more of these indentured servants
and more and more of these indentured servants

are living to finish out their terms of indenture.
are living to finish out their terms of indenture.

They have now built up some immunity to these diseases
They have now built up some immunity to these diseases

that have killed so many other people in Virginia.
that have killed so many other people in Virginia.

And they're finding it really hard to make a living
And they're finding it really hard to make a living

because the planters don't want to give
because the planters don't want to give

quite so many rights, quite so many perks,
quite so many rights, quite so many perks,

to people who live out their indentures.
to people who live out their indentures.

Remember this was a good deal for planters
Remember this was a good deal for planters

when these white servants never actually survived
when these white servants never actually survived

to make good on the promises of land.
to make good on the promises of land.

And now that they are, planters don't want to extend them
And now that they are, planters don't want to extend them

things like a promise of land,
things like a promise of land,

because land is already scarce.
because land is already scarce.

So when servants are finishing up their indentures,
So when servants are finishing up their indentures,

they're finding it difficult to make a living.
they're finding it difficult to make a living.

They often have to continue to work
They often have to continue to work

for the planter they had been indentured to
for the planter they had been indentured to

for very small wages,
for very small wages,

they don't have land of their own,
they don't have land of their own,

they can't get started.
they can't get started.

And this is a world composed almost entirely of men,
And this is a world composed almost entirely of men,

so they can't even find women to marry.
so they can't even find women to marry.

And I think if there's anything we've learned
And I think if there's anything we've learned

from U.S. history,
from U.S. history,

it's that you never want
it's that you never want

a whole lot of unemployed, angry, young men hanging about,
a whole lot of unemployed, angry, young men hanging about,

because young men with a lot of time on their hands
because young men with a lot of time on their hands

get up to trouble.
get up to trouble.

And one young man in particular
And one young man in particular

was this fellow here, Nathaniel Bacon,
was this fellow here, Nathaniel Bacon,

who was incensed at Governor Berkeley's refusal
who was incensed at Governor Berkeley's refusal

to take a harsher stance against
to take a harsher stance against

the Native Americans on the west,
the Native Americans on the west,

where all of these white farmers
where all of these white farmers

wished that they could settle.
wished that they could settle.

And so he gets up a militia,
And so he gets up a militia,

full of young white men,
full of young white men,

and also African American men,
and also African American men,

to actually go after the Native Americans.
to actually go after the Native Americans.

So this is a biracial raid force for Native Americans,
So this is a biracial raid force for Native Americans,

and they raid Native American villages,
and they raid Native American villages,

and kill many Native Americans living in the area,
and kill many Native Americans living in the area,

and Governor Berkeley wants them to stop.
and Governor Berkeley wants them to stop.

And instead of stopping, they marched to Jamestown,
And instead of stopping, they marched to Jamestown,

the capital of Virginia, and set it on fire.
the capital of Virginia, and set it on fire.

So this is a group of
So this is a group of

landless white men,
landless white men,

landless African American men,
landless African American men,

who have rebelled against
who have rebelled against

the government of Virginia.
the government of Virginia.

These are my flames, the House of Burgesses.
These are my flames, the House of Burgesses.

They run Berkeley out of town.
They run Berkeley out of town.

And it's hard to know where this would have ended,
And it's hard to know where this would have ended,

because Nathaniel Bacon himself died.
because Nathaniel Bacon himself died.

And he died of illness,
And he died of illness,

like many other Virginians in this time period,
like many other Virginians in this time period,

so the rebellion kind of petered out without his leadership.
so the rebellion kind of petered out without his leadership.

But clearly this was a really scary moment
But clearly this was a really scary moment

for the House of Burgesses,
for the House of Burgesses,

and for the leaders and planters in Virginia.
and for the leaders and planters in Virginia.

And they started to think,
And they started to think,

alright well maybe this indentured servitude thing
alright well maybe this indentured servitude thing

isn't working out so well,
isn't working out so well,

because once these indentures are up,
because once these indentures are up,

we've got this whole set of landless free whites
we've got this whole set of landless free whites

who technically have the rights of Englishmen,
who technically have the rights of Englishmen,

but we have little work for them,
but we have little work for them,

we have little land for them,
we have little land for them,

and it's going to end up with constant rebellion.
and it's going to end up with constant rebellion.

So maybe we should think about a different source of labor.
So maybe we should think about a different source of labor.

One that will never get its freedom.
One that will never get its freedom.

And it just so happened that there were
And it just so happened that there were

many such laborers for sale
many such laborers for sale

on the coast of west Africa.
on the coast of west Africa.

And we'll talk more about that in the next video.
And we'll talk more about that in the next video.