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What Was The Significance Of Shays Rebellion

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Throughout the history of the United States of America, the strife for power and control has been evident. In early America, the people developed a certain mentality as the promise of freedom, self-governance, and opportunities to achieve was prominent. When this freedom was threatened, struggles for power exploded which was clearly displayed in Bacon’s Rebellion, Shay’s Rebellion, and the Whiskey Rebellion. The tyranny of the elite, who clung to this promise as well, is open for scrutiny in these rebellions that fundamentally changed America. In 1674, Virginian Governor Sir William Berkley’s power was challenged by Nathanael Bacon. Berkley profited many riches from fur trade with the Native Americans, which he had monopolized; yet, his …show more content…

The elites had to break up the rebellion and for the first time used race to break the unity of the people. Racial issues existed before this, but for the first time in America it was used to manipulate and gain dominance. Fear of former servants among the elites grew with the rebellion; therefore, they decided to use enslaved Africans for a labor force who they could control without legal issues. To even further break up the rebellion, the planters and aristocracy promised that whites would never be enslaved because of their race and allowed the poor whites to envision themselves as part of the master class. Planned racial division is just one example of how those in power maintained their power (Murrin et al. 104, Lecture Notes Week …show more content…

To have a country, he knew laws must be obeyed; even so, poor people and farmers interpreted the actions as attempts to eliminate the poor. Washington proclaimed, “It is in my judgment necessary... to take measures for calling forth the militia in order to suppress the combinations aforesaid, and to cause the laws to be duly executed... feeling the deepest regret for the occasion, but withal the most solemn conviction that the essential interests of the Union demand it.” (Washington 67). Military action ended the rebellion, yet certainly strengthened resentment towards federal authority (Murrin et al. 254, Lecture Notes Week

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