Final answer:
Virginia enacted laws after Bacon's Rebellion to prevent future uprisings by creating racial divisions and controlling Black freedom, transitioning from reliance on indentured servitude to racial slavery, which also lessened class tensions among Whites.
Step-by-step explanation:
Virginia wanted to stop groups of enslaved individuals from meeting after Bacon's Rebellion for several reasons. One reason was to prevent any further uprisings or rebellions like Bacon's Rebellion. The fear of future uprisings led the government in Virginia to pass laws that curtailed the freedom of Black people and enslaved people, such as prohibiting them from bearing arms and congregating in large numbers
The restrictive laws enacted by Virginia after Bacon's Rebellion were driven by the colony's desire to prevent future uprisings. This rebellion showcased a united front of both African and European indentured servants against the colonial government, and highlighted the potential for future alliances that could threaten the stability and control of the ruling class. By establishing severe constraints on Black freedom and differentiating the treatment of laborers based on race, Virginia's leaders sought to diminish the possibility of similar insurrections by creating divisions and ensuring a more manageable labor force that could not easily unify against them. The transition from a reliance on indentured servitude to a more permanent, racially-based system of enslavement had the benefit from the colonial elite's perspective of soothing class tensions by uniting White individuals, regardless of their social standing, against a common racially defined 'inferior' group.