Shays' Rebellion

During and after the American Revolution, two vital issues were debated among American intellectuals and politicians. The first of these issues was how to balance individual liberty and social order; the second was whether or not to ratify the proposed United States Constitution. The belief of abolitionists was that all men deserved the same rights to freedom as one another while those benefiting from slavery believed that the two races, blacks and whites, could not live in harmony. On the other…

One that they see fit to lead them. This can cause an instinctive and justified rebellion against those who abuse power and refuse to give it up. Moving on to the next key point Locke made in his document. The government needs society. If society breaks down the government breaks down. Society falls when everyone wants to act as a single…

Many people are unaware that the current constitution of the United States was not the first constitution of the nation. Most people envision a room of founding fathers soon after the Revolutionary War deliberating and creating a constitution which has remained the backbone of the United States’ government for more than 200 years. But indeed, the Articles of Confederation was the first plan of government for the newly independent United States. According to The Library of Congress, the Articles…

The War for Independence is an iconic historical thought for many Americans, a source of pride, as is the Constitution, the document that our government was formed and based on. While this is a source of great pride in the modern American world, during the era of its creation and what led to it there was much turmoil, controversy, and opposition that paved the path to the Constitution of the United States. To begin with the troubling situation that led to the thought of a Constitution, there was…

rebelled against a country store. The rebellion was later named the Stono Rebellion. The group of 20 slaves attacked the country store and killed two store keepers. They also confiscated the stores guns, ammunition and powder. As the rebellion continued, the group enticed other slaves to join the group. The rebellion continued as they pillaged and burned more than half a dozen plantations and killed more than 20 white men, women, and children. The rebellion faced a mounted force of white men who…

occurred. This even was called Shay’s Rebellion. The rebellion was an armed revolt during 1786-1787 (Shay’s Rebellion). Daniel Shay was the head leader of this event that was a rebellion against perceived economic injustices and suspension of civil rights (Boatner). Even though Shay’s Rebellion was a defeat military, it did prompt national leaders to call for a stronger federal government to overpower future rebellions. Proponents of constitutional reform cite the rebellion as justification for…

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, were formulated to encourage New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution. The Federalists insisted that the greatest threat to the United States’ future was the surplus of democracy that triggered Shay’s Rebellion among other major disturbances and they supported the abandonment of the Articles of Confederation. The main detractors of the Constitution are the Anti-Federalists. The Anti-Federalists sought a weak central government that was completely…

So when Shays’s rebellion took place, a rebellion that ended in doubters believing that reform was necessary, the founding Fathers decided that they wanted to create a senate that would make decisions for the people because the people were too indecisive and inconsistent to make their own decisions. This rebellion was when the Western Farmers decided that they wouldn’t pay taxes. They armed themselves and rallied…

The Articles of Confederation highlighted state’s rights over the power of the national government. There was no executive or judicial branch at the national level. This created a government that was not strong enough to control the nation. On the other hand, the states were very powerful. States could negotiate treaties, coin money and even declare war. Even so, each state had just one vote despite its’ size or population. Furthermore, to pass legislation, all states had to agree. Protecting…

disputes amongst other states. The chaos caused by the Articles even lead to an armed conflict known as Shays’ Rebellion today. Delegate from Massachusetts Elbridge Gerry stated in convention, “‘The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy. The people do not lack virtue, but are the dupes of pretended patriots.’” (Gerry qtd. in Madison, 18) This statement was made referencing the rebellion. To begin the deliberation of what the intentions of the delegates were, Mr. Gerry seems to…