HSI:
Sourcing
(History Scene Investigation)
Shay’s Rebellion
1. Who was George Washington? Why might his opinion be valuable to a discussion on rebellion?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Do you think he wanted a strong central
government? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Contextualization
3. Does Washington see Shay’s rebellion as a problem? Support your answer with evidence from the
document.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. According to Jefferson, have the colonies been peaceful or chaotic? Support your answer with evidence
from the document.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Close Reading
5. What does Jefferson mean when he says, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the
blood of patriots and tyrants?”
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
6. What does Washington think about the Articles of Confederation? Does he believe they should be
replaced? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Corroboration
7. Did all of the “founding fathers” feel the same way about government? Use evidence to support your
answer.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
George Washington writing to Henry Knox in response to Shays’ Rebellion (Modified)
Mount Vernon 3d: Feby. 1787
My dear Sir,
I feel myself very thankful to you for the full and friendly communications in your letters. I am extremely
anxious to know the issue of the movements of the forces that were assembling; the one to support (the
Massachusetts Militia) and the other to oppose (Daniel Shay’s) the constitutional rights of Massachusetts. The
moment is, indeed, important! If government shrinks, or is unable to enforce its laws; anarchy and confusion
will prevail and every thing will be turned topsy-turvey in that State; where it is not certain the mischief will
end…
The system on which you seem willing to build a national government is certainly more energetic; having the
Legislative, Executive & Judiciary departments concentered, is exceptionable. It is, I dare say, more desirable
than the present one (the Articles of Confederation), which, from experience, we find is not only slow –
debilitated – and defective… But at the same time I give this opinion, I believe that the current political
machine will possibly be wrecked altogether, before such a system as you have defined, will be adopted. The
darling Sovereignties of the States, whose political importance will be lessened, if not destroyed outright,
would give their weight of opposition to such a revolution. But I may be speaking without book, for I hardly
ever leave my own farms and I see few people who do not call upon me; so I do not really know the attitudes
of the country. Indeed, after what I have seen, or rather after what I have heard, I shall be surprised at
nothing; for if three years ago, any person had told me that at this day, I should see such a formidable
rebellion against the laws and constitutions of our own making I should have thought him a fit subject for a
mad house. –
Adieu, you know how much, and how sincerely I am, ever, your affectionate and most obedient sevant
Go; Washington
Anarchy: chaos; confusion and disorder Concentered: bring toward a common center Debilitated: weak
Thomas Jefferson on Shays’ Rebellion (Modified)
Paris, November 13, 1787
The British have so long hired their newspapers to repeat every form of lies about our being in anarchy, that
the world has at length believed them, and we have believed them ourselves. Yet where does this anarchy
exist? Where did it ever exist, except in the single instance of Shays’ rebellion? God forbid we should ever be
20 years without such a rebellion.
What country before ever existed without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties if their
rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let the people take
arms. The remedy is to present them with the facts, pardon and pacify them.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural
manure. Our Constitutional Convention has [made too much of Shays’ rebellion]: and in the spur of the
moment [I worry they will over-react].
Anarchy: chaos; confusion and disorder Remedy: cure Pardon: forgive Pacify: calm down