Shays' Rebellion

Shays' RebellionBy the 1780s the United States faced many problems operating under the Articles of Confederation.Massachusetts farmers were outraged by the debt and taxes caused by the American Revolution.

US International and Domestic Problems

• International

– Britain, Spain, France all claimed the US owed them money from the war.

• Domestic

– The states were engaged in boundary disputes, levying taxes on goods, printing own currency, and falling crop prices

– Farmers asked for assistance

• Cheap paper money

• Lower taxes

• End to farm foreclosures

Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands

• In Massachusetts, farmers took matters into their own hands when the legislature would not listen Daniel Shays, led a farmers

rebellion on the Massachusettscourts Threatened to use violence to stop the sale of farms for non-payment of debts

Taking Matters Into Own Hands• State leaders plead

that the farmers should use their votes to change matters.

• Shays and 1000+ men marched to central Massachusetts to capture arms and ammunition

• When the state militia challenged the farmer rebellion, the rebels scattered.

Shays' Rebellion

• Shays' Rebellion proved there were weakness in the national government, and they need to revise the Articles of Confederation.