I think that Berlin is referring to the militia created by Bacon, which consisted of black and white servants. The ultimate goal was to attack natives and both the whites and blacks had joined to attain their own freedom. After Bacon’s death, many feared the rebel militia which united white and black servants that destroyed the colonial capital. They were afraid of the multiracial alliance and wanted to protect their superior status, they gave all the white servants more rights and a higher status while the black servants were permanently enslaved creating a difference. This gave one group freedom and another slavery at the same time. Creating an “out” group got rid of the threat of being overthrown and dispositioned from the superior economical position by a rebel militia containing multiracial affinity.
However, Prime Minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand of France insulted the American diplomats by first refusing to officially receive them. He then demanded a $250,000 personal bribe and a $10 million loan for his financially strapped country before he would begin peace negotiations.
