What Was Shay's Rebellion? What Caused Shays

WHAT WAS SHAY’S REBELLION? Shays’ Rebellion was a series of violent attacks on courthouses and other government properties in Massachusetts, beginning in 1786, which led to a full-blown military confrontation in 1787. The rebels were mostly ex-Revolutionary War soldiers turned farmers who opposed state economic policies causing poverty and property foreclosures. The rebellion was named after Daniel Shays, a farmer and former soldier who fought at Bunker Hill and was one of several leaders of the insurrection. WHAT CAUSED SHAYS’ REBELLION? The farmers who fought in the Revolutionary War had received little compensation, and by the 1780s many were struggling to make ends meet. Businesses in Boston and elsewhere demanded immediate payment for goods that farmers had previously bought on credit and often paid off through barter. There was no paper money in circulation and no gold or silver to be accessed by the farmers to settle these debts. With no means to move their crops and make money to pay off debts and taxes, Boston authorities began to arrest the farmers and foreclose on their farms. THE REBELLION BEGINS Farmers first attempted peaceful means to settle their issues. In the summer of 1786, farmers in western Massachusetts began to take direct action against debtors’ courts. Committees of town leaders drafted a document of grievances and proposed reforms, some considered radical, for the legislature in Boston to enact. But other actions began to take place. In Northampton, Captain Joseph Hines led several hundred men to block judges from entering the courthouse. They were joined by a contingent from Amherst and several hundred more men from elsewhere. In Worcester, judges were blocked from holding court by crowds of hundreds of armed men. When the militia was called in, those men refused to answer, and many joined the crowd around the courthouse. DANIEL SHAYS Daniel Shays, for whom the rebellion was eventually named, was a farmer in Pelham and an ex-soldier who fought at Bunker Hill and other significant Revolution battles. Shays became involved with the insurgents sometime in the summer of 1786 and had taken part in the Northampton action. He was offered a leadership position in August but refused. Soon, however, Shays was leading a sizable group and the eastern elite claimed he was the leader of the entire rebellion and potential dictator. But Shays was only one leader in the rebellion. SHAYS’ REBELLION ESCALATES The insurgents found support in unexpected places. Chief Justice William Whiting of the Berkshire County publicly spoke out in favor of the rebellion, accusing the wealthy state legislatures of making money off the impoverished farmers and claiming the farmers were obligated to disrupt government in response. Legendary patriot Samuel Adams, however, called for the execution of the rebellious farmers. Amnesty was also offered to the rebels if they disavowed the efforts to close the courts. The farms were expected to take oaths of allegiance to the state government. Another bill prescribed the death penalty for militiamen who took part in the protests. The situation continued to escalate. In December 1786, a militia assaulted a farmer and his family in Groton, arresting and crippling the farmer, which further fanned the flames of the insurrection. In January 1787, some 4,400 men under the command of General Benjamin Lincoln were directed to put down the insurgency. ATTACK ON SPRINGFIELD ARSENAL Shays and other leaders made plans to raid the federal arsenal in Springfield to procure weapons. On a snow-covered January morning in 1787, 1,200 men approached the arsenal. Some men had guns, while some carried clubs and pitchforks. The assault on the arsenal was predicted and troops were waiting there. As they approached the arsenal, shots were fired at Shays and his men. The first two were warning shots over their heads, but further shots killed several rebels. The rest retreated to Chicopee. Shays and his wife fled to Vermont. AFTERMATH OF SHAYS’ REBELLION The Boston legislature passed the Disqualification Act banning rebels from serving on juries, holding public office, voting or working as schoolmasters, innkeepers and liquor salesmen for three years. By the summer of 1787, many participants in the rebellion received pardons from newly-elected Governor John Hancock. Some were publicly paraded to the gallows before release. Two were executed for burglary. Shays was pardoned the following year. SIGNIFICANCE OF SHAYS’ REBELLION At the time of Shays’ Rebellion, the newly formed United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation, a document that many in the country felt was too weak to effectively manage the fledgling nation. The specter of Shays’ Rebellion informed the debate over the framing of a new U.S. Constitution, providing fuel to Alexander Hamilton and other Federalists who advocated for a strong federal government and diminished states’ rights. Nationalists used the rebellion to heighten paranoia, and George Washington was convinced enough by their arguments to come out of retirement and take part in the Constitutional Convention, where he was elected the first president of the United States. foreclosures – the seizing of property when the owner fails to pay their mortgage payments insurrection – a violent uprising against an authority or government compensation – money awarded to someone for loss, injury, or suffering circulation – movement, flow, motion grievances – a wrong that is the cause of complaint or protest insurgents/ insurgency – an active revolt or uprising obligated – actions taken for moral or legal reasons amnesty – a pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses arsenal – a collection of weapons or other military equipment procure – to obtain something with effort Citation Information: Article Title Shays’ Rebellion Author History.com Editors URL https://www.history.com/topics/early-us/shays-rebellion .

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