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A Critical Analysis Of Bacon's 'Declaration And Remonstrance'

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Critical Analysis: “Declaration and Remonstrance” Preceding the events unfolded in Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion, William Berkeley released a strong statement, Declaration and Remonstrance, in the hopes of persuading the public to not start a revolt. In this essay, I compare the contradicting points of both Nathaniel Bacon’s Bacon’s Manifesto and William Berkeley’s Declaration and Remonstrance with a focus on how Berkeley thoroughly combats arguments made by Bacon. The 1670s proved to be a critical time for colonial America; tensions with Native Indians were beginning to boil, the British Empire was being heavily criticized by the colony’s citizens (Hollitz 25), and William Berkeley, governor of Virginia, was under fear of a revolt of indentured servants brought upon by his cousin, Nathaniel Bacon. Although Berkeley and Bacon were bonded by family, there is no denying that they also happened to be avowed enemies of each other: the crown against the rebellion. Berkeley and Bacon both had drastically opposing points of opinion; while Berkeley was loyal to the crown and a firm believer in order, Bacon demonstrated great resentment toward the crown which he campaigned and fought against it (Hollitz 26). The opposing viewpoints of these men are just the …show more content…

Berkeley immediately begins his statement with a strong use of ethos, stating “Now my friends I have lived amongst you four and thirty years as uncorrupt and diligent as ever [a] governor was,” (qtd. Hollitz 30). This quote brings a substantial wave of confidence and safety to the reader with the governor making the point that during all of his years ruling he has never been proven or accused as corrupt. Immediately establishing credibility is a significant part of Berkeley’s statement that Bacon’s Manifesto was

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