21 August 2012

Violence Brews




Shay’s Rebellion and the Constitution by Mary Hull, 2000, Excerpts

The people who became involved in rebellious activity against Massachusetts in the 1780s were mainly yeoman farmers, craftsmen, and laborers from the central and western counties and the inland rural areas of Massachusetts. All had suffered from high taxes and hard times. Quite a few were veterans.

Taverns provided a means of communication. They had played a vital role in the organization of the American Revolution, and they continued to be one of the few places where people could gather and socialize. In Pelham, where Daniel Shays lived, Conkey Tavern provided a comfortable place for men to meet, get information, and discuss their problems.



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