Following the Revolutionary War, both agrarian and commercial communities experienced a concerning cycle of debt that aggravated the already struggling postwar economy. This downturn greatly affected New England farmers who were accustomed to growing only what they required and having minimal excess. Describing their predicament succinctly, one farmer stated, “My farm ensures a decent livelihood for myself and my family.”
My farm provides everything we wear, eat, or drink, so we don’t need to purchase anything. However, the lack of surplus hinders our ability to earn sufficient money to pay off large debts. To overcome this, merchants offer us necessary items on short-term credit and accept surplus farm goods as payment during certain seasons. But if our crops fail, shopkeepers usually extend credit and thus keep us tied to their businesses for a whole year. This reliance on credit becomes more noticeable during a credit crisis, as the traditional culture gradually breaks down. In tough times, merchants withdraw credit from their yeomen customers and demand repayment in cash, signifying the increasing power of the commercial elite.
The farmers in New England faced social and economic unrest, causing a significant impact on them. Many indebted farmers were taken to court and unfortunately ended up imprisoned for their debts. In response, a considerable number of farmers chose to patiently wait for legal action. However, the General Court (also known as the Legislature) showed little interest in addressing their grievances. As a result, instead of waiting for the General Court to reconvene and address their concerns, the people decided to take matters into their own hands. This decision ultimately led to organizing a rebellion that emphasized the urgent requirement for effective leadership.
Daniel Shays, a farmer from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, fought in the War for Independence and led the rebellion. As a brave soldier achieving the rank of Captain and holding a political position in Pelham, Massachusetts, he joined forces with fellow farmers in the uprising and became their advocate.
The farmers chose a leader for their rebellion against the government. According to a farmer, this leader must be strong and level-headed in times of crisis. They believed that Daniel Shays fit this description. With a leader chosen, it was time to take action. Shays’s followers were eager to begin. While gathered outside the courthouse in Springfield, they discussed kidnapping the judges and holding them hostage. However, Shays tried to restrain them. The Massachusetts militia was present but refused to protect the judges. As a result, court was adjourned and the judges managed to escape unnoticed. Subsequently, Shays’s followers took control of the now vacant courthouse.
After receiving a prearranged signal, the two groups dispersed. Subsequently, numerous farmers’ groups, inspired by Shays’ men, targeted various court houses across the state. Notable examples of these court houses include Hampshire County court, Great Barrington, and Worcester Court of Common Pleas. While some protests were conducted by small groups, others like Worcester involved more than 5000 individuals and were carried out on a larger scale. The news of the rebellion quickly spread within Massachusetts and throughout the entire country.
In response to this uprising, Massachusetts turned to the Congress of the Confederation for assistance. However, their efforts proved ineffective since Congress lacked the means to raise funds for an army that could confront the rebels due to the absence of national taxes.
This rebellion revealed the government’s incapacity to safeguard the population from armed uprisings or adequately cater to their well-being. In Massachusetts, tensions and anxieties among citizens intensified, prompting Governor James Bowdoin to take action. With contributions from personal and merchant leaders, Governor Bowdoin formed an army led by General Lincoln to suppress the insurrection. During his second advance, Shays tried to seize control of the arsenal in Springfield but was confronted by General Shepard and the militia. Meanwhile, General Lincoln and his troops were on their way from Boston. Unexpectedly, a cannon shot was fired into the rebel ranks during the clash, resulting in four fatalities and twenty injuries.
Shays and his men were pursued by Lincoln’s governmental soldiers, resulting in a disorganized retreat. Many of the captured men were promptly pardoned, but fourteen leaders, including Shays, were sentenced to death for treason by the Supreme Judicial Court. However, they were later pardoned by newly elected Governor John Hancock. Only two men were executed for their involvement in the Rebellion. After all the conflict, it begs the question: was anything truly resolved? The primary goal of the rebels was not to advocate for national supremacy and a new constitution. One Shaysite farmer stated that their intention was not to abolish law, but rather to reform oppressive laws.
The significance of Shays Rebellion was not so much the acts of rebellion themselves but rather how it exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation for governing the United States. To prevent future instances of anarchy and to bolster the power of the central government, the Philadelphia Convention was convened to draft the Constitution in the spring of 1787, shortly after Shays Rebellion ended. One notable example is found in the preamble of our current Constitution, where it explicitly mentions ensuring domestic tranquility.17 This clearly indicates that Shays Rebellion was a concern for many delegates at the convention. Some proponents of local governance acknowledged the necessity for a stronger national government.
The formation of the American leaders’ union can be traced back, at least in part, to the domestic upheavals occurring in 1786 and 1787. According to the nationalists, Shays Rebellion demonstrated the overall insufficiency of a political system controlled by semi-sovereign states. The prolonged internal conflict in Massachusetts, a highly respected and influential state within the Confederation, exposed the susceptibility of individual states in the loosely connected union. For leaders like George Washington who supported nationalism, these disturbances served as unmistakable proof of the lack of effectiveness in our governments. Another issue was each state’s right to mint its own currency, which created problems for Congress as the value of money varied across states.
This hindered interstate commerce, resulting in a fragmented country. During the Constitutional Congress, delegates from both the North and the South aimed to prevent the use of paper money and tender laws, two measures associated with dissatisfaction and rebellion in rural areas. To prevent these measures, members of the convention suggested that states should not have the authority to mint money or issue bills of credit, making only gold and silver coins acceptable for settling debts19. Additionally, Shays Rebellion led to the necessity for a permanent military force under the national government.
State officials suggested two methods of military force to prevent future rural rebellions and slave uprisings: taking control of state militias or establishing a national army. The proposed Constitution included provisions for both types of military force, resulting in the establishment of the State National Guard and various branches of the United States Military that still exist today. Unlike the Articles of Confederation, which needed unanimous consent from all 13 states, this new law had to be sent to each state for voting. However, only 9 out of the 13 states were required to ratify the new Constitution for it to become effective. It has remained in effect for over 200 years.
To summarize, both farmers and debtors should be appreciated for their contributions to the strength of our nation. It is crucial to note that if all the debtors facing court for unpaid debts had remained silent and gone to debtors prison, we may not have realized the shortcomings in our national government until it was too late. The importance of a strong central government and a Presidency role, as exemplified by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, played a pivotal role in maintaining unity within our country.
During the World Wars, the United States faced the potential threat of being attacked and conquered by any nation. However, our strong military force and ability to mobilize large numbers of soldiers during times of crisis prevented this from happening.
Similarly, if we had not been united as one during 9-11-01, the outcome for our country could have been different. A single state might have easily dismissed it since their buildings were unaffected. But thanks to the concept of The United States of America, we remained unified and retaliated against those responsible. This experience has made our nation stronger, much like how the Rebellion in our history brought us together and strengthened us.
