Final answer:
The first violent act by Nathaniel Bacon was an unauthorized attack on the Susquehannock tribe, triggering events that culminated in Bacon's Rebellion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first violent act committed by Nathaniel Bacon and his party was an unauthorized attack on the Susquehannock people in 1676. This act set off a series of events that led to Bacon's Rebellion. After the attack, Governor William Berkeley ordered Bacon's arrest, prompting Bacon to lead a force to Jamestown, confront the governor, and ultimately seize control of the colonial government. Despite Bacon's initial restraint during the stand-off with Berkeley on June 23, 1676, he eventually resorted to violence against Native Americans, which his supporters saw as an obstacle to land and wealth. The tension escalated when Bacon and his followers surrounded the statehouse, and though he did not shoot Berkeley as dared, the display of force was enough to compel the burgesses to support him.