Copy this graphic organizer on the bottom half of NB p. 37.

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

Who?

How?

Shays’ Rebellion

Lesson 8.1b: Shays’

Rebellion

Today we will explain the

connection between the weaknesses in

the Articles of Confederation and Shays’ Rebellion.

Vocabulary

• levy – to establish and collect a tax or a fee

• strength – something you are good at

• weakness – something you don’t do well

• debt – something owed, usually money

Check for Understanding

• What are going to do today?

• What is one of your strengths?

• What vocabulary word describes something you owe to someone else?

• What vocabulary word describes the act of establishing or collecting a tax?

What We Already Know

When Britain threatened the

rights of the colonists, farmers and merchants at

Lexington and Concord rose up in arms against

what they saw as injustice.

What We Already Know

With independence came the opportunity and responsibility to create an effective

government.

With independence came the opportunity and responsibility to create an effective

government.

What We Already Know

The first American government was

intentionally made weak by a people that had fought a desperate war for freedom against a

powerful and abusive

government.

The first American government was

intentionally made weak by a people that had fought a desperate war for freedom against a

powerful and abusive

government.

Strengths of the Articles of Confederation

One strength of the Articles was

that they left important powers

to the states.

The Confederation Congress was too weak to solve the nation’s problems.

What was the greatest weakness of the Articles of Confederation? • Be ready to justify your answer.

• Use whiteboards for responsesABCD

ABCD

Weaknesses of the Articles• Aside from its handling of

land issues, the Confederation Congress had few successes.

• By the end of the Revolutionary War, the United States faced serious problems, and the Confederation Congress did not have enough power to solve them.

Weaknesses of the Articles

• Debt was a critical problem for the government.

• Congress had borrowed large sums to pay for the Revolutionary War.

• Much of that money was owed to soldiers of its own army.

Weaknesses of the Articles• Upset at not being paid,

several hundred soldiers surrounded the Pennsylvania State House where Congress was meeting in June 1783.

• The soldiers threatened the legislators, thrusting their bayonets through the windows.

• The delegates were forced to flee the city.

• The event was a clear sign of Congress’s weakness.

Weaknesses of the Articles

• Even if Congress wanted to pay the soldiers, it did not have the power to levy taxes under the Articles of Confederation.

• The national government depended on the states to send money to Congress.

• But the states sent very little money.

Weaknesses of the Articles

• Congress was not alone in facing economic crises.

• People throughout the nation faced hard times.

• In Massachusetts, the economy was so bad that people rose up in arms against the government.

Get your whiteboards and markers ready!

8. What were the strengths of the Articles of Confederation?

A. They empowered Congress to make treaties.

B. They empowered Congress to enforce laws.

C. They empowered Congress to levy and collect taxes and regulate trade.

D. They left important powers to the states.

E. They created a powerful chief executive to run the government.

Choose all that are true!

8. What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

A. Congress had no power to enforce laws, collect taxes, or regulate trade.

B. They withheld important powers from the states.

C. They lacked a chief executive to run the government.

D. They contained a limited bill of rights.E. They were difficult for the states to amend.

Choose all that are true!

The government’s weakness led to violence.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

• In Massachusetts, farmers who could not pay their tax debts lost their land and were jailed.

• In 1787, when the state legislature refused to provide relief from their debts, about 1500 farmers rebelled.

• In Massachusetts, farmers who could not pay their tax debts lost their land and were jailed.

• In 1787, when the state legislature refused to provide relief from their debts, about 1500 farmers rebelled.

This rebellion was led by a revolutionary war veteran named Daniel

Shays.

This rebellion was led by a revolutionary war veteran named Daniel

Shays.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

Shays’ rebels often invaded court rooms to prevent judges from ruling against debtors.Shays’ rebels often invaded court rooms to prevent judges from ruling against debtors.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

In January 1787, Shays and his

men marched on a federal arsenal, a place to store

weapons.

In January 1787, Shays and his

men marched on a federal arsenal, a place to store

weapons.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

The arsenal was defended by 900 militia soldiers from

Massachusetts.

The arsenal was defended by 900 militia soldiers from

Massachusetts.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

• The militia defeated them, killing four protesters.

• Although the protesters were defeated, they won the sympathy of many Americans.

• The militia defeated them, killing four protesters.

• Although the protesters were defeated, they won the sympathy of many Americans.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

The government’s weakness led to violence.

• America’s leaders realized that an armed uprising of common farmers spelled danger for the nation.

• Some leaders hoped that the nation’s ills could be solved by strengthening the national government.

• America’s leaders realized that an armed uprising of common farmers spelled danger for the nation.

• Some leaders hoped that the nation’s ills could be solved by strengthening the national government.

Get your whiteboards and markers ready!

Why was the Confederation Congress not able to pay the

soldiers who fought during the Revolutionary War?

Why was the Confederation Congress not able to pay the

soldiers who fought during the Revolutionary War?

A. It still owed too much money to France and Spain.

B. The Constitution prohibited cash payments to the military.

C. The government was bankrupt after buying Louisiana from France.

D. It did not have the power to levy taxes.

A. It still owed too much money to France and Spain.

B. The Constitution prohibited cash payments to the military.

C. The government was bankrupt after buying Louisiana from France.

D. It did not have the power to levy taxes.

9. What caused Shays’

Rebellion?

A. A slave rebellion in North Carolina

B. Seizure of land from Massachusetts farmers who couldn’t pay their debts

C. Government failure to provide Kentucky settlers with protection from Indian attacks

D. Rebellious Continental soldiers who hadn't been paid for their service