What event signified increasing hostility between the rich and poor in Virginia during Bacon's Rebellion?

The destruction of Jamestown during Bacon's Rebellion is significant as it highlights the intense class conflict and the growing rift between the wealthy landowners and the poorer settlers in Virginia. Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion in 1676 primarily against Governor William Berkeley's administration, which he and his supporters believed was favoring the interests of the wealthy elite at the expense of the common settlers, particularly in issues like land grants and protection from Native American raids.

The burning of Jamestown served as a dramatic act of defiance and a symbol of the frustrations of poorer colonists who felt marginalized. The rebellion exposed the underlying social tensions between those who controlled land and power and those who struggled for economic opportunity. This event became a turning point that illustrated the extent to which class struggles could escalate into violence, reflecting broader themes of inequality that would continue to influence American society.