Congress was feeble in comparison to the states and did not even have the authority to levy taxes upon states. It could not raise the capital to pay wages to veterans who were languishing in debtor’s prison because the war had left them jobless. Congress’ inability to regulate trade was detrimental on many fronts. Foreign nations distrusted America as a trading partner because of Congress’ inability to enforce trade agreements. State governments would tax interstate trade, which would bleed money out of the economy and worsen the financial situations of many Americans. The structure of the Articles made decisions which would increase efficiency or resolve conflicts exceedingly time consuming, which made the government more sluggish in combating rebellions and various other problems. Although it is evident that Shays caused America to finally address its crippling civic disunity, detractors would argue that Shays was a violent anarchist who lacks the sophistication and moral integrity to be recognized for shaping the Constitution. it is essential to point out that characterizing Daniel Shays as a bloodthirsty, ignorant traitor is either disingenuous or simplistic. General Rufus Putnam, in correspondence to Massachusetts Governor Bowdoin, said that Shays described himself as a peacemaker who tried to avoid bloodshed. And in correspondence to General Shepard, Shays wrote he was “unwilling to be any way accessary to the shedding of blood, and greatly desirous of restoring peace and harmony to this convulsed Commonwealth." Although the conflict did turn deadly, Shays was not merely an anarchist. While he realized the grim truth that
Congress was feeble in comparison to the states and did not even have the authority to levy taxes upon states. It could not raise the capital to pay wages to veterans who were languishing in debtor’s prison because the war had left them jobless. Congress’ inability to regulate trade was detrimental on many fronts. Foreign nations distrusted America as a trading partner because of Congress’ inability to enforce trade agreements. State governments would tax interstate trade, which would bleed money out of the economy and worsen the financial situations of many Americans. The structure of the Articles made decisions which would increase efficiency or resolve conflicts exceedingly time consuming, which made the government more sluggish in combating rebellions and various other problems. Although it is evident that Shays caused America to finally address its crippling civic disunity, detractors would argue that Shays was a violent anarchist who lacks the sophistication and moral integrity to be recognized for shaping the Constitution. it is essential to point out that characterizing Daniel Shays as a bloodthirsty, ignorant traitor is either disingenuous or simplistic. General Rufus Putnam, in correspondence to Massachusetts Governor Bowdoin, said that Shays described himself as a peacemaker who tried to avoid bloodshed. And in correspondence to General Shepard, Shays wrote he was “unwilling to be any way accessary to the shedding of blood, and greatly desirous of restoring peace and harmony to this convulsed Commonwealth." Although the conflict did turn deadly, Shays was not merely an anarchist. While he realized the grim truth that