Shays Rebellion

Shays Rebellion

1786-1787 Massachuettes

Angry Farmers

• Under the Articles of Confederation state governments had the power to tax their citizens

• Because of high state taxes and devalued money many veterans from the Revolutionary War were losing their farms

• To protest these high taxes and debts farmers in Massachusetts organized a revolt to block debt collection at courthouses

Cause and Effect

• Shays Rebellion demonstrated that the government under Articles of Confederation was not working.

• The Philadelphia Convention was called to address the numerous issues facing the new nation and to create a better system of government

Multiple Choice

Why did they revolt in Shays Rebellion?

• Growing debt from high state taxes

• Boston Tea Party

• Declaration of Independence

• British Invasion

Open Ended

Why did Shays Rebellion push the United States towards drafting the Constitution?