Shays's Rebellion

Shays's Rebellion was an armed uprising in Massachusetts from 1786 to 1787, led by Daniel Shays and other farmers protesting debt collection and taxes. Its suppression exposed the national government's weakness under the Articles of Confederation.

Massachusetts economy after the American Revolution: The postwar economic conditions in Massachusetts, including public debt, tight credit, and scarce currency. Economic hardship and limited access to money intensified farmers' debts and tax burdens.
Daniel Shays: A former Continental Army captain who became a leader of the Massachusetts uprising. Shays became the best-known commander among the insurgents, though he was not their sole leader.
Articles of Confederation: The first constitution of the United States, in effect from 1781 until 1789. Its weak central government lacked the power and resources to suppress the uprising directly.
Whiskey Rebellion: A 1794 uprising in western Pennsylvania against a federal excise tax on distilled spirits. It also involved tax resistance, but challenged the stronger federal government created after Shays's Rebellion.
Massachusetts state debt: The debt accumulated by Massachusetts during and after the American Revolution. State efforts to repay wartime borrowing helped drive tax demands that rural residents opposed.
Northampton courthouse action: The September 1786 protest that prevented a Massachusetts court from sitting in Northampton. Court closures marked the uprising's shift from petitions to direct coercion.
Annapolis Convention: A 1786 meeting of delegates from five states to discuss interstate commerce and governmental reform. Its call for a broader convention gained urgency amid fears of political instability.
American Revolution: The war for independence fought by the thirteen colonies against Great Britain from 1775 to 1783. The uprising followed the Revolution and drew on its language of resistance, while targeting state policies.
Taxation in the early United States: The systems of taxation used by American governments in the years after independence. Massachusetts's tax policies were part of a broader struggle over how to fund republican government.
Springfield Armory: A United States arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts, established during the Revolutionary era. Insurgents tried to seize its weapons in January 1787 and were repelled.

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