Shays’ Rebellion
Central Historical Question:
How did Americans react to Shays’ rebellion?
Materials:
PowerPoint on Articles of Confederation
Copy of Textbook Excerpt on Shays’ Rebellion
Copy of Thomas Jefferson Letter and Guiding Questions
Instructions:
1. Introduction: The Declaration of Independence kicked off the American Revolution.
The war lasted until 1783, but as early as 1781 the colonies adopted the Articles
of Confederation as their first constitution.
2. We will view PPT slides.
3. Next, read the textbook passage about Shays’ Rebellion and, in groups, answer
the following questions:
What happened in Shay’s rebellion?
How is it connected to the Articles of Confederation?
According to the textbook, how did Americans respond?
4. TRANSITION: The common story about Shays’ rebellion is that the
Founding Fathers realized that the Articles of Confederation were too weak
and thought that the central government needed more power to control
popular uprisings.
Central questions: Did all Americans think the Articles of
Confederation were too weak? How did Americans react to Shays’
Rebellion?
3. In groups, read Thomas Jefferson Letter on Shays’ rebellion, answer
questions and then we will review as a class.
4. GTS Discussion:
What are the pros and cons of a strong central government?
\Why might Jefferson oppose having a strong central government?
Why would the idea of poor farmers rebelling be scary to many of the
people at the Constitutional Convention?
Do students agree with Jefferson’s assertion about the “tree of liberty?”
How does this letter challenge or expand the textbook’s account?
Why might many textbooks make it seem like everyone wanted a
strong central government after Shays’ Rebellion?
Shays’ Rebellion
