History glossary
Shays' Rebellion
a 1786-1787 uprising by indebted Massachusetts farmers that exposed weaknesses in the Confederation government.
- Category
- Uprising
- Region
- Massachusetts
- Date range
- 1786-1787
What it means
Shays' Rebellion was an armed uprising in Massachusetts led by veterans and farmers angry about debt, taxes, and court seizures. The unrest alarmed national leaders and strengthened arguments for revising the Articles of Confederation.
