Lesson 8.1b: Shays’ Rebellion

Essential Question What was the connection between the weakness in the Articles of Confederation and Shay’s Rebellion.

VOCABULARY arsenal: a building used for storing weapons and ammunition. debt: a condition of owing more than one can pay back.  rebellion: an armed fight against one's government. mercenaries: doing military service for pay alone

What We Already Know When Britain threatened the rights of the colonists, farmers and merchants at Lexington and Concord rose up in arms against what they saw as injustice.

What We Already Know The Americans fought an eight year war to rid themselves of a strong and abusive government. They were therefore reluctant to establish a strong central government.

Continental Congress Declaration of Independence 1776 Treaty of Paris 1783 Northwest Ordinance 1787 American Revolution 1775-1783 Land Ordinance 1785 1776 1780 1784 1788

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation By the end of the Revolutionary War, the United States faced serious problems, and the Confederation Congress did not have enough power to solve them.

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation Congress faced serious debt. They had to repay both France and Spain the money they borrowed during the Revolutionary War. Many soldiers who had fought during the war had not yet been paid.

Weakness of the Articles Of Confederation Even if Congress wanted to pay the soldiers, it did not have the power to levy taxes under the Articles of Confederation. Congress depended on the states to send money to run the government, but the states sent very little.

Get your sticks ready.

What powers did Congress have under the Articles of Confederation? A. Congress was empowered to make treaties. B. Congress was empowered to enforce laws C. Congress was empowered to levy and collect taxes and regulate trade. D. It appointed a chief executive to run the affairs of the country. (Choose all that are correct.)

What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? A. They were difficult for the states to amend. B. They withheld important powers from the states. C. They lacked provisions for a chief executive to run the government. D. They contained a limited bill of rights. E. Congress had no power to enforce laws, collect taxes, or regulate trade. (Choose all that are correct.)

Weakness Leads to Violence Congress was not alone in facing economic crises. People throughout the nation faced hard times. In Massachusetts, the economy was so bad that people rose up in arms against the government.

Shays’ Rebellion In Massachusetts, farmers who could not pay their tax debts lost their land and were jailed.

Shays’ Rebellion This rebellion was led by a Revolutionary War veteran named Daniel Shays.

Shays’ Rebellion In 1786, when the state legislature refused to provide relief from their debts, about 1000 farmers marched on the courthouse in Springfield Massachusetts.

Shays’ Rebellion When the judge saw Shays’ and his men surround the courthouse, he suspended any hearings and locked up the courthouse. Shays’ men also succeeded in closing the courts in Worcester, North Hampton and Concord.

Shays’ Rebellion The State of Massachusetts asked Congress in Philadelphia for help in putting down the rebellion.

Shays’ Rebellion There was nothing Congress could do to help; they had no army, huge debt, and no leader. In addition, the Articles of. Confederation prevented the national government getting involved in state matters

Shays’ Rebellion The Governor of Massachusetts got wealthy businessmen to hire an army of mercenaries to go after the rebels. With the money they raised, they were able to put together a force of 4000 men to go after the rebels who now numbered over 2200.

Shays’ Rebellion To defend themselves against the mercenaries lead by General Benjamin Lincoln, Shay needed more weapons. In January of 1787 Shay and his men marched on a federal arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts where they were met by the mercenary army.

Shays’ Rebellion Although Shays’ protesters were defeated, they won the sympathy of many Americans. In the battle that followed, the mercenary army defeated Shays’ rebels. Four of Shay’s men were killed another dozen wounded and the men were scattered.

Get your sticks ready.

(Choose all that are correct.) Why was the Congress not able to pay the soldiers who fought during the Revolutionary War? A. It still owed money to France and Spain. B. Since there was no federal army, it was no longer the responsibility of Congress. C. The government was bankrupt after buying Louisiana from France. D. It did not have the power to levy taxes. (Choose all that are correct.)

What caused Shays’ Rebellion? (Choose all that are correct.) Unfair tax policies toward the farmers in Massachusetts. B. Protests by former Continental soldiers who had not been paid for their service. C. Opposition to the Articles of Confederation tat that gave too much power to the states. D. Low prices paid by merchants for food grown by farmers. (Choose all that are correct.)

Be prepared to share your answers A and B Discuss What did Shays’ Rebellion uncover about the national government ? If you were a citizen living in Maryland or Georgia during this time, what would your feelings be about the national government? Be prepared to share your answers with the class.