<P> Modern historians have suggested the rebellion may have been a power play by Bacon against Berkeley and his favoritism towards certain members of court . Bacon's financial backers included men of wealth from outside Berkeley's circle of influence . </P> <P> Historian Peter Thompson argues that Bacon's motivation was a personal vendetta between him and Berkeley . However, Bacon's followers used the rebellion as an effort to gain government recognition of the shared interests among all social classes of the colony in protecting the "commonalty" and advancing its welfare . </P> <P> When Sir William Berkeley refused to retaliate against the Native Americans, farmers gathered around at the report of a new raiding party . Nathaniel Bacon arrived with a quantity of brandy; after it was distributed, he was elected leader . Against Berkeley's orders, the group struck south until they came to the Occaneechi tribe . After getting the Occaneechi to attack the Susquehannock, Bacon and his men followed by killing most of the men, women, and children at the village . Upon their return, they discovered that Berkeley had called for new elections to the Burgesses in order to better facilitate the American Indian problem . </P> <P> The recomposed House of Burgesses enacted a number of sweeping reforms (known as Bacon's Laws). (Bacon was not serving his duty in the House; rather, he was at his plantation miles away .) It limited the powers of the governor and restored suffrage rights to landless freemen . </P>

The demands of the rebels involved in bacon's rebellion included the