Shay’s Rebellion and the Constitution
by Mary Hull, 2000, Excerpts
Immediately following the uprisings of 1787, the
Massachusetts legislature, at long last, responded to some of the demands of
yeoman farmers. The tender law was extended, and debtors were allowed to leave
debtor’s prison if they swore an oath saying that they had no property to pay
their debts or sustain themselves while they were in prison. Taxes were lower
in 1788 than they had been in eight years.
Most rebels were pardoned, provided that they agreed to sign
an oath of allegiance to the state. Those who surrendered were barred from
voting or holding elected office for three years. To prevent them from
encouraging another rebellion, they were also disqualified from teaching school
or running taverns.
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