1. Lesson 8.1b: Shays’ Rebellion

2. Essential Question
What was the connection between the weakness in the Articles of Confederation and Shay’s Rebellion.

3. VOCABULARY
arsenal:
a building used for storing weapons and ammunition.
debt:
a condition of owing more than one can pay back. 
rebellion:
an armed fight against one's
government.
mercenaries:
doing military service for pay alone

4. What We Already Know
When Britain threatened the rights of the colonists, farmers and merchants at Lexington and Concord rose up in arms against what they saw as injustice.

5. What We Already Know
The Americans fought an eight year war to rid themselves of a strong and abusive government. They were therefore
reluctant to establish a strong central government.

6. Continental Congress Declaration of Independence 1776 Treaty of Paris
1783
Northwest Ordinance
1787
American Revolution
Land Ordinance
1785
1776
1780
1784
1788

7. Weakness of the Articles
of Confederation
By the end of the Revolutionary War, the United States faced serious problems,
and the Confederation
Congress did
not have enough
power to solve
them.

8. Weakness of the Articles
of Confederation
Congress faced serious debt. They had to repay both France and Spain the money they borrowed during the Revolutionary War.
Many soldiers who had fought during the war had not yet been paid.

9. Weakness of the Articles
Of Confederation
Even if Congress wanted to pay the soldiers, it did not have the power to levy taxes under the Articles of Confederation.
Congress depended on the states to send money to run the government, but the states sent very little.

10. Get your sticks ready.

11. What powers did Congress have under the Articles of Confederation?
A. Congress was empowered to make treaties.
B. Congress was empowered to enforce laws
C. Congress was empowered to levy and collect taxes and regulate trade.
D. It appointed a chief executive to run the affairs of the country.
(Choose all that are correct.)

12. What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
A. They were difficult for the states to amend.
B. They withheld important powers from the states.
C. They lacked provisions for a chief executive to run the government.
D. They contained a limited bill of rights.
E. Congress had no power to enforce laws, collect taxes, or regulate trade.
(Choose all that are correct.)

13. Weakness Leads to Violence
Congress was not alone in facing economic crises.
People throughout the nation faced hard times.
In Massachusetts, the economy was so bad that people rose up in arms against the government.

14. Shays’ Rebellion
In Massachusetts, farmers who could not pay their tax debts lost their land and were jailed.

15. Shays’ Rebellion This rebellion was led by a
Revolutionary War veteran named
Daniel Shays.

16. Shays’ Rebellion
In 1786, when the state legislature refused to provide relief from their debts, about 1000
farmers marched on the courthouse in Springfield Massachusetts.

17. Shays’ Rebellion
When the judge saw Shays’ and his men surround the courthouse, he suspended any hearings and locked up the courthouse. Shays’ men also succeeded in closing the courts in Worcester, North Hampton and Concord.

18. Shays’ Rebellion
The State of Massachusetts asked Congress in Philadelphia for help in putting down the rebellion.

19. Shays’ Rebellion
There was nothing Congress could do to help; they had no army, huge debt, and no leader. In addition, the Articles of.
Confederation prevented the national government getting involved in state matters

20. Shays’ Rebellion
The Governor of Massachusetts got wealthy businessmen to hire an army of mercenaries to go after the rebels. With the money they raised, they were able to
put together a force
of 4000 men to go
after the rebels
who now numbered
over 2200.

21. Shays’ Rebellion
To defend themselves against the mercenaries lead by General Benjamin Lincoln, Shay needed more weapons.
In January of 1787 Shay and his men marched on a federal arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts where they were met by the mercenary army.

22. Shays’ Rebellion
Although Shays’
protesters were defeated, they won the sympathy of many Americans.
In the battle that followed, the mercenary army defeated Shays’ rebels. Four of Shay’s men were killed another dozen wounded and the men were scattered.

23. Get your sticks ready.

24. (Choose all that are correct.)
Why was the Congress not able to pay the soldiers who fought during the Revolutionary War?
A. It still owed money to France and Spain.
B. Since there was no federal army, it was no longer the responsibility of Congress.
C. The government was bankrupt after buying Louisiana from France.
D. It did not have the power to levy taxes.
(Choose all that are correct.)

25. What caused Shays’ Rebellion? (Choose all that are correct.)
Unfair tax policies toward the farmers in Massachusetts.
B. Protests by former Continental soldiers who had not been paid for their service.
C. Opposition to the Articles of Confederation tat that gave too much power to the states.
D. Low prices paid by merchants for food grown by farmers.
(Choose all that are correct.)

26. Be prepared to share your answers
A and B Discuss
What did Shays’ Rebellion uncover about the national government ? If you were a citizen living in Maryland or Georgia during this time, what would your feelings be about the national government?
Be prepared to share your answers
with the class.