Shays Rebellion was an agricultural uprising provoked by the high taxes that Congress had imposed on poor farmers

in Massachusetts. Many historians disagree on the effect of Shays Rebellion. On one hand, some historians claim that Shays Rebellion exposed the drawbacks of the Articles of Confederation, and, therefore, brought about a federal government by convincing leaders to create a new constitution. Some people even argued that with a more centralized government, rebellions of this nature would be less likely to occur because economic activity in the whole country would be boosted.1 Others, especially political leaders, thought that Shays Rebellion was an example of how a decentralized government under the Articles of Confederation left the country vulnerable, and, consequently, called for a strong national constitution. As a result of Shays Rebellion, most legislatures appointed delegates to meet at Philadelphia and draw up a constitution, according to George Washington.2 Many Federalists associated opposition to the constitution and Antifederalists with Shays Rebellion. They thought that without a constitution, opposition like Shays Rebellion would continue to occur and cause chaos through the country. On the other hand, other historians argue that Shays Rebellion was only a part of a movement to creating a new constitution. They argue that Shays Rebellion did not necessarily cause Federalism, but it acted as a mechanism to spread this belief in America.3 There were other pressures at the time as well. Congress tried to pay its debt by attempting to sell western lands, but were prevented by British troops who remained in Western posts. State constitutions called for larger representative assemblies, and nationalists feared that average citizens tended to vote more for their economic interests than the common good.4 Congress could not levy taxes, and many states chose to not comply with their requisitions. All of the states did not accept the national impost on foreign goods, or the Jay-Gardoqui Treaty in 1786, which would have opened ports in the Spanish Empire. Even before Shays Rebellion, two-thirds of the states agreed to convene at Annapolis in September 1786 to devise a uniform

Mark Spencer, Shays Rebellion, History In Dispute 12, (April 2003): 266. Mark Spencer, Shays Rebellion, History In Dispute 12, (April 2003): 287. Paul Newman, Shays Rebellion, History In Dispute 12, (April 2003): 290. Paul Newman, Shays Rebellion, History In Dispute 12, (April 2003): 290.

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system in their commercial regulations, which showed a desire for some kind of union.

Before Shays

Rebellion, seven states had already provided delegations for Philadelphia, and five others were waiting for the official Congressional call in February 21st. In fact, at first Massachusetts almost didnt ratify the constitution due to Shayists and Shayist sympathizers.

Paul Newman, Shays Rebellion, History In Dispute 12, (April 2003): 291.