FREE ESSAY ON SHAY'S REBELLION

SHAY'S REBELLION

Critical Analysis
Shay's Rebellion
1) Shays' Rebellion, the post-Revolutionary clash between New England farmers and
merchants that tested the precarious institutions of the new republic, threatened to
plunge the disunited states into a civil war. The rebellion arose in Massachusetts in
1786, spread to other states, and culminated in an abortive attack on a federal arsenal.
It wound down in 1787 with the election of a more popular governor, an economic upswing,
and the creation of the Constitution of the United States in Philadelphia.
Shay's Rebellion was the first armed uprising of the new nation. It was caused by the
absence of debt relief legislation in Massachusetts. When the Revolution ended, merchants
and creditors lobbied for high taxes and against paper money. They were successful. These
procreditor polices underminded farmers' finances. The legislation, including foreclosure
laws, were extremely taxing to farmers and caused many to go into great debt. Many
farmers were dragged to court where they faced high legal fees and threats of
imprisonment because of their debt. In 1786, farmers in Massachusetts attended extralegal
meetings where they protested against high taxes and aggressive eastern creditors. Bands
of angry farmers joined together to close law courts with force and freed debtors and
fellow protesters from jail. Resistance to the legislation climbed to a full-scale
revolt. John Adams, president at the time, answered with the Riot Act, which outlawed
illegal assemblies. The rebellion was suppressed by military force. The rebellion
prompted leaders with national perspective to redouble their efforts and create a
stronger central government. 
2) Economic crisis: high taxes, mounting debt
A series of tax revolts by Massachusetts farmers against the Massachusetts legislature in
1786-1787. 
After the Revolutionary War, the Massachusetts legislature imposed high taxes to pay war
debts. Rural farmers could not pay their taxes and faced forfeiture of their farms.
Resentment of the taxes increased to the point that the farmers began to break up court
sessions to prevent judges from ruling that specific farms should be sold to pay tax
bills. 
These minor acts of rebellion turned violent in January 1787 when Daniel Shays, a farmer
and Revolutionary War veteran, led 1200 people into Springfield to seize weapons from a
national government arsenal. Massachusetts State military troops quickly put down the
rebellion, but the event shocked the nation at the time. Shays' Rebellion hinted that law
and order were seriously breaking down across the new United States to the extent that
the national government, under the Articles of Confederation, could not even protect its
own arsenal. 
Shays' Rebellion kindled the people's desire to form stronger national government which
could enforce law, keep order, and solve the problems facing the developing United
States. 
3)Yes, I feel that the arguments presented in this essay were very strong and well
supported. There was a lot of information and facts, however, in my opinion that created
a problem. The article was almost too informative and gave way to a boring paper. I
disliked the presentation of information because of the lack of interest that was
displayed. The whole thing seemed to drag-on. Although, I did like the way the text was
structured because on the introduction that provided me with clarity of what was to come
as well as the easy reading level. Both of those aspects did make the assignment easier
to accomplish.
4) This essay relates to what we have been learning about in school lately because it
links together several events that occurred after the Revolution. It demonstrates the
post-war effects and without a central government. It provided insight into how the
Revolution did not provide the outcome that most Americans were expecting and in many
ways they were facing the same issues as before except without the king. Debt was forming
and people were once again rebelling because of taxes. The article also talked about
important people and leaders such as Daniel Shay, George Washington, Samuel Adams, Thomas
Jefferson, John Hancock, and James Bowdoin. All of this information we have previously
discussed in class and taken notes on.
5) This piece of writing is important for us as high school students to learn about
because it is extremely informative. Alden T. Vaughan provides incredible insight and
knowledge about this specific period in history which was very crucial. The reason it was
so important was because it provided the framework to creating the government and nation
that we have in the United States today. The paper also provides facts on the
post-Revolution conditions especially in Massachusetts and how the revolt began because
of taxes. The were an obvious need for a central government and the article showed how
specific leaders like Washington and Jefferson stepped up and led the nation to the
Continental Congress. Lastly, the importance of learning about this ties into the issue
or presidency and the election that just passed. Both back in the 1780's as well as now
there is a large need for not only a strong federal government but for wise and capable
leaders as well. So as the future generation of America, it is important for us teenagers
to be aware of all these things and hopefully it will make us more knowledgeable for the
issues and decisions that lie ahead of us.