Shays's Rebellion -1786. of the Articles, and they now viewed the condition of affairs with alarm, fearing lest a breaking up of the government should take place. The seriousness with which Washington regarded the situation is shown by his reply to a member of Congress who urged him to use his influence with the states to secure a stronger support of the general government. "You talk, my good sir, of employing influence," wrote Washington. "Influence is not government. Let us have a government by which our lives, liberties, and properties will be secured, or let us know the worst at once." The weakness of the government under the articles in not being able to establish a uniform currency and to regulate trade, was brought home by riots in various parts of the country, and particularly by Shays's rebellion in Massachusetts. All goods bought abroad had to be paid for in gold and silver, and as our imports were greatly in excess of our exports, hard money rapidly disappeared from circulation. Owing to the lack of money people were unable to sell their products, pay their taxes, or engage in trade. Farms, cattle, and tools were seized and sold to pay taxes and mortgages, and in many cases people were imprisoned for debt. In response to a general demand, and in the hope of relieving distress, many states issued paper money. When Massachusetts refused to issue such money, about two thousand farmers in the vicinity of Worcester and Springfield, under the leadership of Daniel Shays, a former captain in the Revolution, seized the court houses, refused to allow the courts to sit, and thus for several months prevented the prosecution of debtors. The insurrection was finally put down by the state militia. But these troubles clearly revealed another inherent defect in the articles, namely, the powerlessness of Congress to maintain order. It was readily seen that Congress could render a state no assistance if an insurrection should become so great that the state militia could not quell it. This rebellion was one of the chief events leading to the new Federal Constitution. The conservative citizens in every state were greatly alarmed when open rebellion developed in Massachusetts and officers of the government were not permitted to carry on their duties. Many felt that the Articles of Confederation had given the people too much power and the nation was suffering (as Gerry expressed it) from "an excess of democracy." There was a general demand for a central government strong enough to carry out the will of the people expressed in law. As we shall see, this reaction brought a spirit of conservatism into the Constitutional Convention a few months later that had great influence in shaping our Constitution. To the Pupil: QUESTIONS 1. Show how the experiences of older people or how former generations have contributed to you ideas that you would be long in acquiring if left to yourself. 2. Apply to nations the conclusions reached in the preceding question. 3. What is Feudalism? Why did it work so successfully for such a long time? 4. Why is it unnecessary to take an oath of loyalty when you are born in a nation such as ours? 5. What actions of William the Conqueror would you, with your present ideas, consider unjust? 6. From the experiences following the crusades show why a representative government strives to have its citizens own their own homes and practice thrift. 7. Why do property owners have more interest in their government? 8. After reading of the reign of King John show how the kings themselves were really to blame for losing their power. 9. In the reign of which of the kings would you have rather lived? Why? 10. After the crusades the nation and king were always greatly in debt. What advantage did this give the people? 11. What was the great importance to us of the organization of the House of Commons? 12. Ask older persons if they know of any instances where candidates for office have made promises that were carried out no more faithfully than those of Charles I. Report what happened to them. 13. Define Habeas Corpus and tell why this act was SO urgently desired by the people. 14. What relation does the action of the Stamp Act Congress have to the Six Great Rights? 15. Inasmuch as modern methods of communication were not in existence, what schemes were used to keep the colonists informed regarding developments? Show how this encouraged the desire for representative govern ment. 16. Beginning with the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts trace the important actions that led to the Declaration of Independence. 17. Prepare a brief biography of at least five of the men prominently identified with the Declaration of Independence. 18. Is there any significance in the fact that the Declaration of Independence was signed by 24 lawyers, 9 farmers, 5 physicians, 1 minister, 1 manufacturer, and 8 merchants? 19. Relate the causes or conditions which led to the Articles of Confederation. 20. Give an account of the Articles of Confederation. Why was it a failure? 21. What was the significance of Shays's rebellion? 22. Support the contention that the colonists needed a new type of government. Things to Do: 1. Would you have been happy during the reign of King John? Prepare a three-minute talk on why you think your government is more satisfactory. 2. Suppose that you are a rather important member of a small community in England and while in London on business you have just heard that Queen Mary has signed the Bill of Rights. Talk to your neighbors (the class) telling just what it is going to mean to them. 3. Being a colonist suppose that you had received a letter from a sympathizer with the King of England denouncing the action of the Stamp Act Congress as unjust and unreasonable. Write a letter in reply. 4. Find one of Patrick Henry's famous speeches, select and memorize a paragraph that appeals to you, and speak it before the class. .5. Write a newspaper editorial for publication during Shays's Rebellion. The Annapolis Convention1786. CHAPTER FIVE PERIOD OF REALIZATION OF NATIONALITY-1781-1789 During this period the internal influences previously noted compelled the formulation of "a more perfect union" in order that the states might preserve in their integrity the rights and liberties won by united resistance to England's oppression. In the absence of any central authority to regulate foreign commerce, each colony levied whatever import duties it saw fit. The desire of each state to gain all it could for itself naturally led to such confusion and strife as to cause trade with foreign nations rapidly to decline. Then, too, some states laid such restrictive duties on the products of other states that interstate trade fell off alarmingly. Trade relations finally became so bad that, in accordance with a request of the legislature of Virginia, a convention of delegates to consider the subject of "the trade and commerce of the United States" was held in Annapolis, Maryland, in September, 1786. The twelve delegates present represented but five states-New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia—and no action was taken. The convention, however, unanimously approved a report drawn up by Alexander Hamilton, urging the calling of a convention to devise such plans as would "render the Constitution |