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What Are The Causes Of Shay's Rebellion

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Shay’s Rebellion Many farmers in the newly settled areas of central and eastern Massachusetts suffered from high debt as they tried to establish new farms. Unlike some of the other state legislatures, Massachusetts did not pass pro-debtor laws such as forgiving debt or printing more paper money. Instead, they had local sheriffs seize property and farms and place those farmers that could not afford to pay their debts into prison. This led to the first armed rebellion in the post-Revolutionary United States. The protestors believed that they were protecting the “good of the commonwealth” and opposing the “tyrannical government in the Massachusetts state” (Keene 2013). This rebellion affected many people in differing ways. The events that unfolded in Massachusetts alarmed many people, including George Washington, and prompted the Philadelphia Convention. Here, fifty five delegates from twelve different states convened to discuss their thoughts on the Articles of Confederation. It was clear to them that the Articles of Confederation presented an inadequate …show more content…

In a letter to James Madison, Jefferson writes “I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government” (Vitale). Jefferson was not concerned about the rebellion and unlike other leaders of The Republic, he believes that people have the right to express their objections against the government, even if those objections might take the form of violent

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Last night on February 4, 1787, General Benjamin Lincoln attacked members of the Shays’ Rebellion, and successfully captured 150 of the rebels. As a result, Daniel Shays left Massachusetts and fled to Vermont. Shays Rebellion was an armed rebellion consisting of 1,200 angry farmers from Massachusetts. They caused major chaos in this state. On December 26, 1786 Daniel Shays and the rebels revolted in Springfield, Massachusetts insisting that the state legislature address their issues, such as lack of money.

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Riyana Patel 12/6/15 Mr. Riotto US 1 H Chapter 7 Summary The chapter starts of with a detailed description of events before a series of protests from 1786-1787 known as Shay’s Rebellion, led by Daniel Shay in Western Massachusetts. This rebellion was to overthrow the state government by going against the Springfield arsenal; this movement was an example of the weakened government and led to the ratification and adoption of the United States Constitution. With the end of the royal authority the Continental Congress became the national government and formed state governments that were governed by the people. Although by the end of 1777 Articles of Confederation were proposed by John Dickinson, in order to help keep

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Many Americans grew upset with the Confederation government. So Alexander Hamilton a lawyer and General’s Aid to George Washington decided to change the Articles of the Confederation. He called on the National Convention to overhaul the document. He requested that Congress call upon all of the states to attend a gathering in Philadelphia. George Washington was the first to arrive in Philadelphia giving the large amounts of creditability for the meeting bringing 55 men from all of the states.

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In the declaration of independence and the letter from Jefferson on Shay's Rebellion proves that Jefferson would support modern day protests. For example in paragraph 1 it states "God forbid we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion.". This line tells us how there will always be protests. Jefferson writes "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with blood of patriots and tyrants.". Here Jefferson is inturrpeting that rebellions and protests are natural and they will happen from"time to time".

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Does Thomas Jefferson's letter about Shays's Rebellion prove that Jefferson would likely support modern day protest? I believe that Jefferson's letter help support modern day protest. Evidence that helps support this claim is found in the letter Jefferson wrote "What country before ever existed without a rebellion?". This piece of evidence helps supports the claim because Jefferson is stating that what country before ever exist without a rebellion. Another piece of evidence that helps support the idea is "God forbid we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion."

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This is because Shays rebellion took place because the poor farmers were fighting against the outrageous taxes which were leaving them without land and in prison with no means of supplying food for their families. In many states at the time if someone didn't have land they weren't able to vote because in the governments eyes they had no power. These taxes were taking away the farmers land which then also took away their right to vote which left them powerless and made their options pointless. Poor farmers ended up in jail which left their families out on the streets begging for money and a means to survive. Just like the whiskey rebellion farmers were left without a way to supply for their family because the demand of whiskey was way down after the government increase the tax by 25%.

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The Declaration of Independence and the letter Thomas Jefferson wrote telling about Shay’s Rebellion gives examples that Jefferson would likely support modern day protests. For example, in the Declaration of Independence it states, “That whenever any form… effect their safety and happiness.”. This shows that he would support modern day protest because the people now can choose which people they want to be governed by. Everyone has a say. Also in the letter on Shay’s Rebellion, Jefferson wrote, “rulers are not warned form time to time that their people preserve the sprit of resistance.”.

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The next year, a problem occurred by the Massachusetts farmers that later became known as Shay’s Rebellion, broke out. The

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A meeting was held during 1787 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known as the “Constitutional Convention”. This was to revise the "Articles of Confederation". This meeting had fifty-five men and each one of them had their own role to play. Two men that went stood up for themselves, the people, and some states.

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Shays’ Rebellion later convinced the other states to meet at the Philadelphia Convention in May 1787. 55 delegates from all the states except Rhode Island attended. They had planned to only revise the Articles but soon found that they were

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Thomas Jefferson’s perspective (on modern day issues) Thomas Jefferson would support modern day protests like one of the more recent ones against racism in Baltimore, Maryland. He would support these protests because he says in the declaration of Independence “all men are created equal….life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” and if they are unhappy or dislike anything that the government puts out they should have the right to “overthrow abusive governments.” These pieces of evidence show that Jefferson would believe that something was making the people upset and if no one would fix it they would have to try and fix it themselves by making it more known and noticeable. Also, in Jefferson’s letter about Shay’s rebellion he states, “the

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Shay’s Rebellions follow the Revolutionary war and how the US fell into a economic crisis, There were a lot of tension due to farmers losing their property to to debt collectors. In January 1787, him and his force were sent to a federal armory at Springfield but it failed due the artillery fire and how it lead to 4 people being killed and 20 people being wounded. Rebellion doesn’t always end up peaceful and it can also show no improvement at.

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Due to the fact that Massachusetts was newly settled, yeoman farmers were attempting to build new farms resulting in debt that the farmers could not pay. The yeoman farmers were also in debt because of a post-war recession, lack of payment of their army stipends, and failure to receive payment for their bonds. These debts lead to farmers being arrested which caused the anger that lead to the creation of Shays’ Rebellion. Other states with this problem were passing laws to protect their farmers during this economic crisis, but Massachusetts did not which further angered the lower class. The already poor farmers were forced to give up their land as payment because the farmers could not pay their debts in specie.

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Thousands of farmers took up arms against the enforcement of a federal law calling for an excise tax on distilled spirits. It began in 1794 and is known as the Whiskey Rebellion. It signifies the largest organized resistance in opposition of federal authority between the American Revolution and the Civil War. Several of the rebels of the Whiskey Rebellion were prosecuted for treason in what were the first such legal proceedings in the United States (Whiskey Rebellion). The idea of taxation without local representation, was the main controversial argument behind the unfairness of the tax, which was exactly what the Americans had previously fought over.

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The U.S 's first government was created on September 17, 1787 when the US Constitution was signed. This event brought together all 13 states by a unanimous vote. With this, our new government was formed, but now that we have this new system and much more freedom, what exactly is the purpose of our government? Is it to run our businesses? make treaties? or just to say that we have one?

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