Shays's Rebellion

Take notes below in Cornell Style. You will also need to write six questions and a summary. Write two level one questions, two level two questions, and two level three questions. There is information at the bottom of the notes to help you do this.

The American Revolution ended in 1783. The money paid to the soldiers who had fought in the Revolution was worthless. This was because the government was not allowed to raise taxes in the Articles of Confederation. They could print money, but no one thought the money was worth anything. As a result, the farmers were unable to pay their debts. The farmers were taken into court, then into jail, and finally their land was taken away from them. Most of the farmers were soldiers who had fought in the Revolution, and they were mad.

In 1786, an armed revolt by farmers against the state government took place. Led by Daniel Shays, the farmers began to forcibly prevent the courts from meeting so they couldn't take anyone else’s land away or put them in jail. Early in 1787, the Governor sent 4,400 men against the rebels and the rebels were defeated. Shays and the other rebels were pardoned. (An official act of forgiveness)

Shays’s Rebellion showed the leaders of America that the Articles of Confederation were too weak, and a stronger national government was needed. This event led to the Constitutional Convention, the scrapping of the Articles of Confederation and the creation of the U.S. Constitution.

Levels of Questions

Level One questions come right from recalling what you read. In a level one question, you ask, who, what, when, and where. An example of a level one question is Which amendment gives American citizens the right to free speech?

Level Two questions allow you to process information. Comparing and Contrasting are often types of level two questions you would ask in a history class. An example of an level two is Compare and contrast the British soldiers to the American soldiers during the American Revolution?

In Level Three questions, we imagine, plan, predict, speculate, and evaluate. An example of a level three question is What would have happened if America had lost the revolution?