Return with me now, 333 years into the past, and visualize if you
will, a family of four living in Colonial America during the late 17th Century. They seem to be enjoying another peaceful
evening inside their Colonial Hovel, but all that is about to change. The master polishes his blunder-buster, while
the wife tucks her two children into bed, and then returns to her chair and begins knitting. They hear the sound of
rioters off in the distance, and it begins to grow, and the sound gets closer, and closer, and louder, AND LOUDER, when
all of sudden, a torch comes crashing through the window, setting the hovel ablaze. The master springs to his feet
to put out the flames with a table cloth, while the wife runs to the nursery to awaken her two children, and get them
out of the hovel to safety. The master soon joins the rest of his family out on the street as he is unable to put out
the fire. The now homeless family looks about them, as they see that all of Jamestown, VA. where they live, is totally engulfed
in flames.
Fellow Toastmasters, honored guests and dignitaries; this was the burning
of Jamestown VA; in the Year 1676. It was an event in history which planted a "One Hundred Year Seed," one that would
change the course of Colonial America's Destiny forever, once it came to fruition.
Just prior to the burning of Jamestown, VA; in 1676, The American Colonies, particularly
Virginia, were governed by a self serving greedy tyrant by the name of Sir William Berkeley. Berkeley played favorites
among the colonists. He ran things so that he and his "Chosen ones" would prosper greatly in the new world, while everyone else
(who made up the majority) had to struggle greatly just to make ends meet. They endured unbearable hardships. In fact,
those who were not among Berkeley's chosen ones, were not even allowed to take up arms against marauding Native Americans who
often attacked the homesteads. Finally, the colonists had had a belly-full of Sir William Berkeley.
Enter Nathanial Bacon, who was the son of the Famous Englishman, Francis Bacon; and,
he was the cousin to Sir William Berkeley. Bacon was the most charismatic leader of his day in Colonial America. He
stirred up a revolt among the struggling colonists, and so Bacon's Rebellion began. For awhile, Bacon gave his cousin,
Sir Billy Boy fits. One time Sir William Berkeley completely lost it, and he threw such a tantrum, he ran out towards
his Cousin Nathaniel yelling: "Before God and all men, shoot me!" Well, Nathaniel didn't shoot his cousin, he had
other plans; and, he besieged the Town of Jamestown instead, running Sir William Berkeley and his Associates, an all
the other members of his "Clique" out of town. Knowing that Berkeley would probably be back with reinforcements, Bacon
made sure that there would be nothing left for Berkeley to take back, and so that is when Bacon set fire to Jamestown.
Jamestown was now in ashes (but was later rebuilt), and Bacon now controlled the American Colonies.
But all this was short lived, as Bacon was soon struck down with Lime's Disease, and
he died. Without Bacon's charismatic leadership, Berkeley was able to turn the tables and Bacon's Rebellion was quelled
in short order. Now King Charles II of England sided with Bacon throughout the entire conflict, as he didn't particularly
like the way Sir William Berkeley ran things in the colonies either. And so, he pardoned all of Bacon's Men involved
in the uprising. But tyranny did not yield to royalty in this case, as Sir William Berkeley completely defied The King's pardons,
and went on a bloody spree, executing Bacon's men one by one. Well, now The King had had a belly full, and he summoned
Sir William Berkeley back to England, an order which Sir William Berkeley could not disobey. There, he was stripped
of his power, disgraced before his fellow countrymen, and soon he died a broken man at age 70. U.C. Berkeley up in
Northern California ---------- is not named after him.
Well, so ended the tyranny in Colonial America for the time being. But, Bacon's Rebellion
planted a One Hundred Year Seed. It was the seed of desire for American Colonists to take a stand against tyranny and
self serving government officials. It was the seed of desire for American Colonists to take a stand against illegal
"Taxation Without Representation." It was the seed of desire for American Colonists to live in a new land which was FREE,
where "All men are created equal" and there were no favorites. That seed came to fruition exactly one hundred years later
in Philadelphia, PA; on July 4, 1776. The place was Independence Hall, where the Cracked Liberty Bell rang out loud
and long from the belfry, as our forefathers were signing, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
Madam Toastmaster.
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