Shays Rebellion :: essays research papers

Troubled FarmersIn the first geezerhood of peacetime, following the Revolutionary War, the future of both the agrarian and commercial community appeared threatened by a strangling chain of debt which aggravated the d holdcast economy of the postwar years.1 This poor economy affected near every superstar in New England especially the farmers. For years these farmers, or yeomen as they were usually called, had been used to growing just enough for what they needed and grew teensy-weensy in surplus. As one farmer explained My farm provides me and my family with a good living. zero we wear, eat, or drink was purchased, because my farm provides it all.2 The only problem with this charge of life is that with no surplus there was no way to chafe enough money to pay excessive debts. For example, since farmer possessed little money the merchants offered the articles they needed on short-term character and accepted whatsoever surplus farm goods on a seasonal basis for payment. fur ther if the farmer experienced a poor crop, shopkeepers usually extended credit and thereby tied the farmer to their businesses on a yearly basis.3 During a credit crisis, the gradual disintegration of the traditional culture became more apparent. During lumbering times, merchants in need of ready cash withdrew credit from their yeomen customers and called for the repayment of loans in hard cash. Such demands showed the growing power of the commercial elite.4 As one could imagine this brought much social and economic unrest to the farmers of New England. more of the farmers in debt were dragged into court and in many cases they were put into debtors prison. Many unflinching to take operation The farmers waited for the legal due process as yen as them could. The Legislature, also know as the General Court, took little action to address the farmers complaints. 5 So without waiting for General Court to know back into session to work on grievances as requested, the People took mat ters into their own hands.6 This is when the idea for the Rebellion is decided upon and the need for a attraction was eminent.The RebellionThe person that was chosen to lead the rebellion was Daniel Shays. Shays, born in Hopkinton Massachusetts, grew up as a farmer before he fought for his artless in the War for Independence. During the War he fought in such name battles as the Battle of Lexington, Bunker Hill and Saratoga.