Something that may not be as often talked about with Bacon's Rebellion is how white supremacy became more politically and legally solidified as a result of the uprising of black and white indentured servants and poor farmers. While the uprising was another example of genocide against the indigenous people of the land now known as the "United States of America", the uprising was also a clear show of unity between poor and indentured black and white people within the colonies. As a result of the uprising, there were several laws that were created with the express purpose to prevent another multiracial uprising that threatened the stability of the wealthy, elite ruling class. These laws forbid interracial relationships and established much harsher penalties for indentured black people who escaped from their indentured slavery otherwise fought back against their conditions. For instance, after Bacon's Rebellion, the penalty for a black person who escaped indentured servitude was to be enslaved for life, which significantly differed from the punishment for an indentured European. These laws continued to distinctly separate the treatment and lives of indentured Europeans and indentured African people until eventually African people were enslaved for life as a general practice, and indentured Europeans were increasingly put in positions of power over enslaved African people.
No comments:
Post a Comment