Shay’s Rebellion

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Shay’s Rebellion
Background
In the year 1786 to 1787, there arose an armed uprising in Massachusetts which came to be famously known as shay’s rebellion. This revolution drew its name from the leader who was known as Daniel Shay. Shay was a revolutionary war veteran. He led a group of over four thousand rebels. The rebellion had its basis on the perceived economic and civil rights injustices. Before the uprising, there had existed waves of disillusionment and air of dissatisfaction. These sentiments emanated from the preconceived ideas that the government was not articulating the right elements of ensuring high generation of economic platforms to sustain the needs of the citizens. There were also sentiments that there was much unfairness in the dealings of the government in matters of the small scale holders particularly the farmers.
There were senses of failure to achieve equality and sustenance of economic growth, (Howard, 1). The unfairness was in economic and civic administration. It was from those backgrounds that Shay sought to lead the over four thousand citizens, mainly farmers to bring remedy to their problem through rebellion. During the American Revolutionary war, the economy in Massachusetts had got too much down. There were expectations that; with time, there could be heading of the plights of the farmers by the government. However, as time went by; there were all indications that; the suffering would continue for an extended period without the government heading to the plights.

There was side igniting of the rebellion by the observation of the leaders in the uprising that the United States government was much at ease in extending assistance to other states in need, yet, their citizens were suffering, (Howard, 1). The United States has been known, for a long time, in the extension of help to other countries. In a natural setting, there would be an expectation of satisfaction of the locals.
Difficulties and delays
Unlike in many of other rebellions, the uprising was violent in a sense that there were efforts of using weaponry. Despite the many sentiments that uprising, especially armed one is not a good thing, there have been feelings that, such a rebellion as the Shay’s is a positive aspect in a government. Such sentiments emanate from the considerations that; with such moves, a state is stimulated to consider the plights of the people and therefore, seek modes of ensuring stability for the matters in question.
In the beginning, there had been delays in embarking on the uprising. Nevertheless, with the efforts of Shay, there was every effort to ensure there is attention from the government. With the There was marching on Armory at Springfield in the United States. The marching aimed at the seizing of government weaponry for use in overthrowing the government, (Barbuto, 236). There was quite a good attempt at the capturing of the state armory for the purpose of the overthrowing. However, there was not success in the whole venture. Much of the success of Shay in leading the rebellion, with over four thousand people is in attribution to experience as a veteran of revolutionary war. One may be tempted to imagine that such kind of leadership would be comfortable. At the time, people were not as much enlightened concerning their rights. There was much fear towards the extent in which a citizenry could go towards fighting for their rights especially in line with a government.
Merchandise exchange
The feelings that the Shay rebellion was on a viable ground emanate from the realizations that; people have a right to put forward their misgivings against a government There is the acknowledgment that at times, such expressions may require usage of great moves, which is what transpired in the uprising led by Shay. The Shay’s rebellion resulted in the thoughts of US constitutional convention and the thoughts concerning of a new government, (Barbuto, 237). These sentiments were from the perceiving that; with a new administration, there could be hope of a much proper administration; hence the opportunity for airing of the grievances for every individual, no matter how down they might be on the ladder of government.
In the areas that were much developed on issues of the economy such as the coastal areas of Massachusetts Bay as well as Connecticut river valley fertile places, the economy mainly from market. The transaction from those productive areas was mainly with wholesale merchants from Europe. The same Europe dealers used to transact with the government; hence, the continued feeling that the government was not doing its duty rightfully.
After the end of war, there was insistence from the European Merchants that the farmers had to pay with hard currency. There was a suspicious failure to extend credit to the farmers. Although there seemed to a universal shortage of the coin at the time, it was much difficult for the farmers to access money for their transaction. There was an extension of the demand for the hard currency to the people down in the economy chain, hence; further suppression of the economy and much fuelling of the grudges leading to the rebellion.
Consequences
There is an acknowledgment that; in the preliminary arrangement of the insurgency, there seemed to be little regard for the possible implications. Many of the participants had charges of anger, and they did not put much thought in the aftermath. There were expectations of arrests but still most of the participants were ready for such extends.
Upon the escalation of the uprising, there was much arresting of the participants. When the government embarked in dealing with the members of the rebellion, there were promises of amnesty for those that would willingly confess to the participation, (Barbuto, 237). Most of the four thousand participants appended their signatures to the confession list for those who participated. There was the indictment of over seven hundred of the members on charges related to violation of the law in the event of the uprising. Further, there was pardoning of most of those indicted except the top ringleaders.
The amnesty and the pardoning from the government were from the realization of the state that the participants were somehow justified in the rebellion. There was also fear of the perception from other countries that look up to the United States in the leadership of the right treatment to the citizens. On the other hand, there had to be the conviction of the ringleaders in a bid to ensure that in future, there would be restricted motivation in such kind of endeavors. These sentiments are from the understanding that; without leadership, it would be highly impossible for a group to reach its endeavors, however, strong they might be. Much of the impact of the rebellion was on the legislative seats whereby; the incumbent occupants came to receive little votes in the next election.
Works Cited
Barbuto, Richard V. “Shays’s Rebellion: Authority And Distress In Post-Revolutionary America.” Journal Of Military History 80.1 (2016): 236-237. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Nov. 2016.
Howard Zinn, A peoples’ history of the United States, Retrieved from: http://www.historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html