Compare the ways in which TWO of the following reflected tensions in colonial society.

Bacon’s Rebellion (1676)

Pueblo Revolt (1680)
Salem witchcraft trials (1692)
Stono Rebellion (1739)
There were many times in which the colonies faced tension; especially with the forming

of a new government and society. The tension produced within the circumstances leads to

multiple events, including Bacon’s Rebellion (1676) and the Salem Witchcraft Trials (1692).

Although there are plenty of other events that can reflect the tension within the society, both

Bacon’s Rebellion and the Salem Witch Trials encompass the tensions from racism/sexism, the

structure of the government, and class relations.

In colonial society, the government was made to provide power to the upper class which

inevitably resulted in events like Bacon’s Rebellion and the Salem Witch Trials. Bacon’s

Rebellion was a revolt that was caused due to planters in the West opposing the government’s

Indian policy. This created major social class tensions between Bacons followers (mainly

servants and rebels) and the upper class, government, and coastal planters. Bacon began a

rebellion to signify how unfairly the government was structured, which reflects one of the main

tensions of colonial society. This was also communicated during the Salem Witch Trials but in a

different aspect. The church government of Puritan New England believed that only the chosen

ones, the “visible saints,” were in power and every other citizen was expected to follow them and

their orders as if it was a command from God. The colonists saw women as second class citizens

who didn't have a say, and they were easily wrongfully convicted. When women were accused of

being a “witch,” they were immediately executed by the church government based on weak

evidence. The fact that this was just based on the colonists’ superstitions, shows how unfair it
was to individuals in the lower class who had very little opportunity to prove themselves

innocent. Thus, both Bacon’s Rebellion and the Salem Witch Trials, properly exemplify the

tensions in a dominating government during colonial society.

These disputes also display tension with class, racism, and sexism. Bacon’s ulterior

motive was for money and power, for which he started the rebellion. His followers mainly

supported him because of their own low class and the failing economy. The fact that most of his

followers were mainly consistent with indentured servants, puts them at the bottom of the social

pyramid and along with that came the lack of social mobility, leading to anger and annoyance. In

the more racist aspect, Bacon’s rebellion shows how colonist’s truly viewed Native Americans.

Colonists were under the impression that Indians were savage and so they did not provide any

respect towards them, which ultimately lead to border conflicts. When Governer Berkeley added

harsher rules and started leaning towards slavery, it was the start of a major cause of racism in

America. At the time of the Salem Witch Trials, the women who were accused were mainly from

lower classes. The women who were accused of being witches did not have the money or the

reputation to prove themselves innocent, which led to them being executed. Also, during the

trials, many who were accused typically did not fit in with the colonial society, or in other words,

they were poor. In total, there were 3 slaves who were accused and executed based on the

opinion of little girls. Both these issues express the disadvantage individuals had to face just

being poor, black, or even a woman.

In conclusion, there were many events that caused tension in colonial society. However,

both Bacon’s Rebellion and the Salem Witch Trials emphasize the tensions between an
overpowered government, lower-class disadvantages, and even the unfair treatment that comes

with being a woman or being black.