What was Bacon's Rebellion primarily a response to?

Bacon's Rebellion was primarily a response to the lack of protection for backcountry settlers, specifically against attacks from Indigenous peoples. The rebellion, which took place in 1676 in Virginia, was led by Nathaniel Bacon, who rallied the frustrations of frontier settlers who felt neglected by the colonial government in Jamestown. These settlers were increasingly facing threats from Native American tribes as they moved westward and encroached upon Indigenous lands.

The colonial government, led by Governor William Berkley, struggled to adequately provide military protection to these backcountry settlers, prioritizing trade relations with Indigenous groups over the safety of settlers. This sense of abandonment and the desire for more aggressive action against Native American tribes fueled the uprising. Bacon's Rebellion thus highlighted the tensions between different classes of settlers and epitomized the struggles of those on the fringes of colonial society who sought protection and rights.