Shays Rebellion

Causes and Consequences of Shays’ Rebellion

In the 1780’s Massachusetts’ farmers were being drained and frustrated by heavy land taxes that were being issued. Farmers grew worried as they saw fellow farming neighbors and relatives selling furniture, grain, and livestock for sometimes half of its value. As much land and resources farmers were working with, they weren’t making any money. They were broke. The heavy land taxes were forcing high legal fees, threats of imprisonment, and also increasing the line in debtors’ court. The free farmers in western and central Massachusetts feared that they would be reduced to the status of tenant farmers.

Farmers attempted improvement by working within the government but by 1786 state lawmakers had only issued small reforms. This was not going to help the farmers whom mostly needed immediate relief. With debtors’ court still in charge, the farmers thought that the only solution now was an open rebellion.

Farmers thought, which better to lead the rebellion then a farmer who had served at the Battle of Lexington, seen action at such battles as the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Saratoga. Before he could reach the title of captain, Daniel Shays became the battle cry for nearly nine thousand rebellious farmers around the New England area.

By the August 29, 1786, Shays Rebellion started to take notice. Daniel Shays formed squads of farmers to march up to debtors’ courts and force them to close down. Soon enough they were shutting down many courts, and they were being recognized as the court-stoppers. Merchant and legislators of the New England area viewed the court closings as rising fear for the very foundations of their society. As a response to the rebellious acts, the Congress of Confederation ordered troops to combat the rebels. But this attempt failed as the national government struggled to finance the army.

Shays rebellion seemed unstoppable for a while, until Massachusetts’ governor and other wealthy...