Shays' Rebellion

The post-war economic depression brought about financial difficulties, a credit squeeze caused by a lack of hard currency and fiscally harsh government policies to solve the state's debt problems. Many war veterans have protested against this and shut down county courts to stop the judicial hearings for tax and debt collection. The farmers have no hard currency to pay for goods and the merchants has refused to extend lines of credit to them, which has led to some losing their land and other possessions when they are unable to fulfill their debt and tax obligations. This has led to strong resentments against tax collectors and the courts, where creditors obtained and enforced judgments against debtors, and where tax collectors obtained judgments authorizing property seizures. A militia has been raised as a private army, to begin organizing an armed force. Amending the Articles of Confederation would ease the pressure on these farmers and give them some means to provide for themselves...