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American Revolution, major turning point in the United States' freedom
Shays warnings to debtors about the government taking land of their own
Due to the high taxes and debt, the farmers and war veterans were upset.
Due to the high taxes and debt, the farmers and war veterans were upset.
"Those states have suffered by the stoppage of the channels of their commerce, which have yet found other issues. This must render money scarce and make the people uneasy” (Letter by Thomas Jefferson to James Madison).
Thomas Jefferson's letter demonstrates that with the lack of money flow, the people started to get frustrated.
The large debt America owes to France and other countries that supported them during the American Revolution led to the government's unable to pay war veterans. This made the veterans have to resort to farming as a job.
Daniel Shay
War veteran and leader of this rebellion
Thomas Jefferson; a supporter of the rebellion
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Debtor jails are where the people would go if they had no more money for the state.
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If the farmers and war veterans couldn’t pay the taxes due to the lack of money and debts. The State would take the people's land for compensation.
If the farmers and war veterans couldn’t pay the taxes due to the lack of money and debts. The State would take the people's land for compensation.
“The distresses of the people are brought on by the present system of government” (A letter from Daniel Shay and Danial Gray to Benjamin Lincoln).
There was a severe economic crisis that the country was undergoing after the revolution. The veterans could not pay their taxes because they weren’t compensated for their time in the military.
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