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==Shays' Rebellion==

==Shays' Rebellion==

Shays' Rebellion in 1786-87 illustrated how inadequate the national government was under the Articles of Confederation.  It was an armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers burdened with high debt.  This was the first of many future clashes between Americans who owed money (debtors) and those who lent money (creditors).  The farmers were angry that they had to pay back their loans in “specie” (gold or silver) rather than cheaper paper money.  Every other state had issued paper money, and the sudden inflation that occured appealed to the people of Massachusetts.  Little did they know that the money would soon become worthless and lead to a depression.

Shays' Rebellion was an armed revolt in Massachusetts that lasted from August 1786 until February 1787, demonstrating how weak and inadequate the national government was under the Articles of Confederation.  The cause of the revolt was money.  It was an armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers burdened with high debt.  This was the first of many future clashes between Americans who owed money (debtors) and those who lent money (creditors).  The farmers were angry that they had to pay back their loans in “specie” (gold or silver) rather than cheaper paper money.  Every other state had issued paper money, and the sudden inflation that occurred appealed to the people of Massachusetts.  Little did they know that the money would soon become worthless and lead to a depression.

The farmers lost their farms when they could not pay their loans, and because of that they lost their right to vote, because at the time only property owners could vote.  They violently took over the town courthouse to prevent any additional court-ordered seizures of their farms.  The Massachusetts governor sent in the militia but there were more farmers in the rebellion then there were in the militia.  Daniel Shays then led 1200 men to Springfield to capture the federal arsenal, but by then there were enough state militiamen to win.  Shays fled to the Vermont area.  Everyone was panicked by this uprising, and a newly elected Massachusetts legislature subsequently enacted some debt relief.

The farmers lost their farms when they could not pay their loans, and because of that they lost their right to vote, because at the time only property owners could vote.  They violently took over the town courthouse to prevent any additional court-ordered seizures of their farms.  The Massachusetts governor sent in the militia but there were more farmers in the rebellion then there were in the militia.  Daniel Shays then led 1200 men to Springfield to capture the federal arsenal, but by then there were enough state militiamen to win.  Shays fled to the Vermont area.  Everyone was panicked by this uprising, and a newly elected Massachusetts legislature subsequently enacted some debt relief.

This incident proved to many that a new government was necessary.

This incident proved to many that a new government was necessary.  In particular, this incident impressed upon George Washington himself that a stronger national government was needed.  Later, when George Washington was president, he personally led a national army to easily put down a similar revolt in Pennsylvania (the Whiskey Rebellion).

==The Constitutional Convention==

==The Constitutional Convention==