Final answer:
Nathaniel Bacon led rebels in attacking Native American tribes without a commission from Governor Berkeley, as part of what became known as Bacon's Rebellion, amidst rising tensions over land and security policies in the Virginia colony.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the period of Bacon's Rebellion, Nathaniel Bacon and his followers expressed discontent with Governor William Berkeley's policies on Native American relations and land distribution. These policies were believed to be protecting the interests of the wealthy and established landowners while neglecting the safety and economic interests of the smaller planters, farmers, and frontiersmen.
As tensions between colonists and Native Americans increased, particularly during the Susquehannock War, Bacon defied the governor's orders and pursued a policy of extermination against various tribes without an official commission.
The student's question refers to Bacon's response to the theft of a hog by Indians: in retaliation, Bacon proceeded to lead an offensive war against the Native Americans, attacking several tribes, which escalated into the larger conflict of Bacon's Rebellion. The rebellion resulted in attacks on Native American tribes and the eventual burning of Jamestown, showcasing the severe divide between frontier residents and colonial government policy.