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Unit 5: New Nation
Unit 5: New Nation
Lesson: Shays' Rebellion
Lesson: Shays' Rebellion
Tennessee State Standard:
Tennessee State Standard:
8.21 Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and describe the Land Ordinance of 1785, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, the Northwest Territory, the Lost State of Franklin, and Shays’ Rebellion.
8.21 Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and describe the Land Ordinance of 1785, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, the Northwest Territory, the Lost State of Franklin, and Shays’ Rebellion.
SHAYS' REBELLION
SHAYS' REBELLION
AN EVENT CREATES DOUBT
AN EVENT CREATES DOUBT
The instability demonstrated by settlers in the lost state of Franklin and military veterans in Shays’ Rebellion cast doubt on the Articles of Confederation and accelerated the calls for a stronger central government to maintain peace and order in the new country.
After the American Revolution, many veterans of the Continental Army did not receive their pay because the United States government under the Articles of Confederation was struggling financially.
Under the Articles of Confederation there was no way for the National Government to levy taxes, and therefore, no way to make money to pay the former soldiers.
As a result, many Revolutionary War Veterans encountered economic hardships. Some farmers went into debt and were in danger of losing their farms. Debt collectors seized the property of some veterans and a few even went to debtors prison.
This injustice lead to protests in several states that eventually turned violent. In Massachusetts, in the fall of 1786, Revolutionary War Veteran and farmer Daniel Shays led a group known as the "Regulators" who grabbed their muskets, took over the courthouses, and freed debtors from prison.
The Massachusetts Governor would not stand for this. He organized a state army to combat the Regulators, resulting in an armed conflict between the two groups.
Daniel Shays was charged with treason. He moved from place to place to avoid arrest. In 1788 a pardon saved his life.
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