Shays’ Rebellion

After the war with England, what were the colonists most afraid of? Tyranny

How did this fear of tyranny influence the national government that they created? -the government was a very weak one -most power stayed with the states -it could not tax or enforce laws -it only had a legislative branch

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation -Congress could not levy taxes -Congress cold not regulate commerce (trade) -Congress could not enforce laws -Approval of nine states was needed to enact laws -Amendments required unanimous approval

Problems after the war -Congress and the states had printed money to buy war supplies and pay soldiers. This money became worth increasingly less. -Possible sources of income were also restricted. Farmers could not sell their goods to the Caribbean colonies which were still owned by England.

Massachusetts -In Massachusetts, the state legislature had raised taxes on land to pay war debts. Farmers who could not pay the taxes were in danger of losing their land Massachusetts farmers, led by Daniel Shays, attempted to close down the courthouses. Massachusetts used its state militia to put down the rebellion.

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure. Our Convention has been too much impressed by the insurrection of Massachusets: and in the spur of the moment they are setting up a kite to keep the hen yard in order. – Thomas Jefferson, 1787

“The ‘Patriot’ Movement Explodes” Southern Poverty Law Center

Patriots or Rebels? Daniel Shays viewed himself as a patriot. In your view, was he a patriot or a rebel? If you were drawing a political cartoon about Shays’ Rebellion, what image would you use to portray Shays? Why?

ctive_patriot_groups.pdf ctive_patriot_groups.pdf