After the Revolutionary War, American states were in significant debt.
Legislators raised taxes, leading to unrest among poor farmers and war veterans.
This unrest culminated in a rebellion that nearly sparked a civil war in Massachusetts.
Key Figures
Daniel Shays: Former captain in the Continental Army and leader of the rebellion.
Events
Summer of 1786: Thousands of Shays' followers protested against tax collection.
Used force to prevent debtors from being imprisoned.
Aimed to seize weapons in Springfield to compel the Boston legislature to change the laws.
Public Reaction
Residents of Massachusetts were terrified by the rebellion.
The state legislature recognized its powerlessness, as the Continental Army had been disbanded post-war and the federal government lacked funds for new troops.
Response to the Rebellion
Wealthy merchants in Boston raised an army of over 4,000 militia to confront Shays' followers.
This militia effectively defeated Shays and his rebellion.
Shays and his troops eventually received pardons.
Massachusetts began to implement local tax and debt relief measures.
Consequences
Although the confrontation was anticlimactic, Shays' Rebellion revealed significant weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.
It demonstrated that Congress lacked the power to establish or fund an army.
The rebellion influenced many, including Washington and Hamilton, to advocate for a stronger federal government.
Highlighted the need for a new constitution to address these weaknesses.