Shays’s RebellionShays’s Rebellion
In partial-fulfillment of grade 8 Social Studies requirements In partial-fulfillment of grade 8 Social Studies requirements on May 20th, 2005 by Ashley Hu to Mr. Haskvitzon May 20th, 2005 by Ashley Hu to Mr. Haskvitz
Causes of the RebellionCauses of the Rebellion A depression occurred after the A depression occurred after the
end of the American Revolution end of the American Revolution in 1783in 1783
This affected many farmers, This affected many farmers, especially those in Western especially those in Western MassachusettsMassachusetts
Economic value for agricultural Economic value for agricultural goods decreasedgoods decreased
High taxes from the government High taxes from the government were imposed due to debts from were imposed due to debts from the warthe war
Many farmers were thrown in Many farmers were thrown in prison from debt after their prison from debt after their property was confiscated and sold property was confiscated and sold for one-third or less the original for one-third or less the original priceprice
Source: http://barney.gonzaga.edu/~jleahy/history/revolution.html
Main Events of the RebellionMain Events of the Rebellion At first, farmers merely demanded the development of paper At first, farmers merely demanded the development of paper
money to lead to inflationmoney to lead to inflation Inflation would assist the farmers in paying off debtsInflation would assist the farmers in paying off debts Farmers also petitioned for lower taxes from the government Farmers also petitioned for lower taxes from the government
and a reform in the courts, since the courts were in charge of and a reform in the courts, since the courts were in charge of the system of creditthe system of credit
Farmers desired elected officials running courts rather than Farmers desired elected officials running courts rather than appointed officials since many were run by wealthy groupsappointed officials since many were run by wealthy groups
A group known as the Regulators were formed because many A group known as the Regulators were formed because many individuals in Massachusetts sought reformindividuals in Massachusetts sought reform
Initially, the farmers were not involved in any type of Initially, the farmers were not involved in any type of violence; instead, the farmers focused on freeing farmers in violence; instead, the farmers focused on freeing farmers in prisonprison
Main Events of the Rebellion Main Events of the Rebellion (cont’d)(cont’d)
As conditions grew worse, many As conditions grew worse, many began to take action by refusing began to take action by refusing to allow courts to have any further to allow courts to have any further hearings and throw debtors in hearings and throw debtors in prisonprison
To do this, farmers armed To do this, farmers armed themselves and settled in front of themselves and settled in front of courts such as Pittsfield and courts such as Pittsfield and NorthamptonNorthampton
Leaders began to emerge to guide Leaders began to emerge to guide farmers towards justice against farmers towards justice against unfair actionsunfair actions
One particular leader who was a One particular leader who was a veteran of the Revolutionary War veteran of the Revolutionary War was Captain Daniel Shayswas Captain Daniel Shays
Source: http://www.people.memphis.edu/~kenichls/2601Shays.html
Main Events of the Rebellion Main Events of the Rebellion (cont’d)(cont’d)
When citizens of Massachusetts attempted to consult the government of When citizens of Massachusetts attempted to consult the government of their hardships, the government not only ignored their pleas, but also raised their hardships, the government not only ignored their pleas, but also raised tax from fifteen cents to one dollar and seventy-five cents to pay off debts tax from fifteen cents to one dollar and seventy-five cents to pay off debts of the warof the war
In August of 1786, the farmers’ anger could not hold any longer. Fifteen In August of 1786, the farmers’ anger could not hold any longer. Fifteen hundred men armed with guns and swords kept the Northampton courts hundred men armed with guns and swords kept the Northampton courts from holding hearings of debtorsfrom holding hearings of debtors
Other mobs even hurt and insulted judges while liberating prisoners at Other mobs even hurt and insulted judges while liberating prisoners at Great BarringtonGreat Barrington
Desperate to prevent the rebellion from spreading, Governor James Desperate to prevent the rebellion from spreading, Governor James Bowdoin began to enlist soldiers for the militiaBowdoin began to enlist soldiers for the militia
On September 25On September 25thth to 25 to 25thth, Shays led fifteen hundred men to the Springfield , Shays led fifteen hundred men to the Springfield Courthouse to prevent the hearing once againCourthouse to prevent the hearing once again
In retaliation, Governor James Bowdoin sent forty-four hundred soldiers in In retaliation, Governor James Bowdoin sent forty-four hundred soldiers in the militia to force down the uprisingthe militia to force down the uprising
Main Events of the Rebellion Main Events of the Rebellion (cont’d)(cont’d)
Shays did not receive this Shays did not receive this information, so he continued towards information, so he continued towards the arsenalthe arsenal
General William Shepherd, who was General William Shepherd, who was the head of the militia, commanded the head of the militia, commanded that the men stop, but the farmers did that the men stop, but the farmers did not, so the general fired a cannon shot not, so the general fired a cannon shot over themover them
However, the farmers pressed However, the farmers pressed onwards and the militia once again onwards and the militia once again fired a cannonfired a cannon
The cannon shot landed in the center The cannon shot landed in the center of the rebelsof the rebels
Three rebels were killed and a fourth Three rebels were killed and a fourth severely wounded, and who later diedseverely wounded, and who later died
After the shot had killed the men, the After the shot had killed the men, the rest of the rebels fledrest of the rebels fled
Following, the rebels planned to take over the arsenal located in Springfield before preventing a hearing in the Hampshire County Court on January 25th However, Luke Day, another leader of the rebellion, attempted to notify Shays that there was a delay due to heavy snows
Who Participated in the Rebellion?Who Participated in the Rebellion?
Former soldiers of the Former soldiers of the Revolutionary WarRevolutionary War
FarmersFarmers Surprisingly, many Surprisingly, many
wealthy familieswealthy families
Source: http://www.bycamera.co.uk/gallery/pages/image1.html
Effects and Outcomes of the Effects and Outcomes of the RebellionRebellion
Rebels were captured on February 3Rebels were captured on February 3rdrd of 1787 of 1787 Shays and the men he led were all sentenced to treason, but most were Shays and the men he led were all sentenced to treason, but most were
pardoned by the John Hancock, who was a newly elected governorpardoned by the John Hancock, who was a newly elected governor Though they were pardoned, Shays and the rebels were prohibited from Though they were pardoned, Shays and the rebels were prohibited from
running in office, serving in juries, and votingrunning in office, serving in juries, and voting Shays’s Rebellion exposed the flaws of the Articles of confederationShays’s Rebellion exposed the flaws of the Articles of confederation Congress could not raise any taxes, so debts were unable to be paid (state Congress could not raise any taxes, so debts were unable to be paid (state
governments, however, were enable to raise taxes)governments, however, were enable to raise taxes) Congress was able to call upon a militia, yet the soldiers were not paidCongress was able to call upon a militia, yet the soldiers were not paid In addition, though Congress could pass laws to regulate the actions of the In addition, though Congress could pass laws to regulate the actions of the
states, but the states were not obliged to obey themstates, but the states were not obliged to obey them Congress could not pass amendments unless all thirteen states approved of Congress could not pass amendments unless all thirteen states approved of
them, so the Articles of Confederation could not be editedthem, so the Articles of Confederation could not be edited Furthermore, Congress could not make certain decisions due to the fact Furthermore, Congress could not make certain decisions due to the fact
that each side of the discussion could not gain any majoritythat each side of the discussion could not gain any majority
Effects and Outcomes of the Effects and Outcomes of the Rebellion (cont’d)Rebellion (cont’d)
A Constitutional Convention in 1787 was held A Constitutional Convention in 1787 was held from influence of Shays’s Rebellion called for from influence of Shays’s Rebellion called for a stronger federal governmenta stronger federal government
This lead to the development of the United This lead to the development of the United States Constitution todayStates Constitution today
Annotated BibliographyAnnotated Bibliography
Books:Books:
American Journey, TheAmerican Journey, The (2000) Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (2000) Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Provided a brief overview of the rebellion in general, and explained the Provided a brief overview of the rebellion in general, and explained the causecause
Richards, Leonard L. Richards, Leonard L. Shays’s Rebellion: The American Revolution’s Final Shays’s Rebellion: The American Revolution’s Final Battle Battle (2002) (2002) Explained the individuals who participated in the rebellion and what Explained the individuals who participated in the rebellion and what caused them to join itcaused them to join it
Starkey, Marion L. Starkey, Marion L. A Little RebellionA Little Rebellion (1955) (1955)Provided accurate information with no event missing. In addition, the Provided accurate information with no event missing. In addition, the book explains the causes and effects of the rebellion.book explains the causes and effects of the rebellion.
Annotated Bibliography (cont’d)Annotated Bibliography (cont’d)Internet sites:Internet sites:
Calliope Film Resources (2000) Shays’ RebellionCalliope Film Resources (2000) Shays’ Rebellionhttp://www.calliope.org/shays/shays2.htmlhttp://www.calliope.org/shays/shays2.htmlProvided cause, effect and detailed events of the rebellion. Important individuals are also established.Provided cause, effect and detailed events of the rebellion. Important individuals are also established.
O’Neill, Stephen C. (1998) Supreme Judicial Court Historical Society O’Neill, Stephen C. (1998) Supreme Judicial Court Historical Society http://www.sjchs-history.org/Shays.htmlhttp://www.sjchs-history.org/Shays.html Provided essential information on the rebellion, starting with the petitions then to the violent uprising. In Provided essential information on the rebellion, starting with the petitions then to the violent uprising. In
addition, the consequences of the rebels and outcome of the rebellion.addition, the consequences of the rebels and outcome of the rebellion.Vest, Rose (2005) Shay’s Rebellion Vest, Rose (2005) Shay’s Rebellion http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/birth/1bc3b.htmlhttp://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/birth/1bc3b.html
Discusses position of farmers as well as Shays. Events, causes, and effects are explained elaborately.Discusses position of farmers as well as Shays. Events, causes, and effects are explained elaborately.
Encyclopedias:Encyclopedias:
Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, The, 6Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, The, 6 thth Edition (2005) Columbia University Press Edition (2005) Columbia University Press http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0844765.htmlhttp://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0844765.htmlImportant information on the rebellion explained, as well as a brief description of the aftermath.Important information on the rebellion explained, as well as a brief description of the aftermath.
WikimediaWikimedia Foundation Foundation, Inc; Wikipedia Encyclopedia (2005) , Inc; Wikipedia Encyclopedia (2005) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shays%27s_Rebellionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shays%27s_RebellionInformation on leaders and overview of the uprising is clearly recognized.Information on leaders and overview of the uprising is clearly recognized.
