Historian James D. Rice joins us for our kick off program on April 15th at Jamestown Settlement with a colorfully detailed account of the rebellion, highlighting how the central events of Bacon’s Rebellion and its aftermath are woven into the founding story of America. During the Rebellion,  the powerful, charismatic Governor Berkeley, the sorrowful Susquehannock warrior Monges, the wily Indian trader and tobacco planter William Byrd, the regal Pamunkey chieftain Cockacoeske, and the rebel leader himself, Nathaniel Bacon were all pulled into an escalating conflict whose outcome, month by month, remained uncertain. As the drama unfolded, it became apparent that the struggle between Governor Berkeley and the impetuous Bacon was nothing less than a battle over the soul of America, and, moreover, the issues at the heart of the rebellion lasted for generations. This lecture will be hosted at Jamestown Settlement (2110 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185).

In 2026, “Tales From a Revolution: Bacon’s Rebellion and the Transformation of Early America hosted at Jamestown Settlement” is presented as part of “Reconsidering Bacon’s Rebellion at 350 Years,” a joint program series by Preservation Virginia, Jamestown Rediscovery, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, William & Mary Office of Strategic Cultural Partnerships, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, the Rappahannock Indian Tribe, and the Nottoway Indian Tribe with support from Virginia Humanities.

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