Shay's Rebellion 

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During the summer of 1786 unsettled economic conditions, opportunistic state politicians, and a weak and disorganized Continental Congress led to considerable popular unrest. Some officers who had fought for six years to gain independence from Great Britain's unfair management became leaders of local groups protesting against excessive taxes, unfair decisions by the courts, excessive government salaries, and the lack of a stable currency. In Massachusetts rebel groups closed the courts in Northampton, Great Barrington, and Worcestor. Daniel Shays (1747? - 1825) of Pelham MA agreed to lead a demonstration large enough to prompt corrective action. Shays had been a captain in the Revolutionary War, and at fifty years of age he knew how to recruit men to a worthy cause, to train them for battle, and to deploy them to good effect. In 1787 January he led a column of 1,500 armed rebels against the armory (weapons factory) in Springfield MA, intent on siezing the cannon, muskets, and gunpowder there. Militia Gen. William Shephard had several cannon and 1,200 local militia to defend the armory. After several cannon shots -- killing four rebels and wounding twenty -- the insurgents retreated. Troops under Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln subdued the rebels and arrested many of them. Shays fled to Vermont -- which was at that time an independent republic. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court sentenced Shays and thirteen others to death. Twelve were pardoned several months later by newly-elected Governor John Hancock, but two who had reputations as outlaws were hanged. By June of 1787 the Massachusetts legislature was working on reform measures to address the major grievances that had led to the revolt. This revolt was an extreme example of many similar threatening uprisings. Many national leaders were upset that governments that were supposed to be responsive to the needs of the people had failed to behave responsibly and that the structure of the confederated states was so weak that the confederation could not intervene effectively either to address the grievances or to suppress the revolts. The need for a stronger central government was underscored by Shays Rebellion, which gave additional incentive to the delegates to the Constitutional Convention to complete their task in short order. The Convention first met on 1787 May 25 and a majority of the delegates signed it on Sept 17 -- a remarkably short time to develop and agree on such a significant and enduring document.

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