15 (Second Edition): “We the People:” Constitution Making in Philly

Greg Jackson (0:10)

It's about four o'clock in the freezing afternoon, January 25th, 1787 And 40-year-old farmer Daniel Shays is doing something that, a few years ago, he never would have imagined. He's leading a force of well over a thousand farmers through four-foot-deep snow in Western Massachusetts out to arm themselves in their ongoing struggle against their own state government. This isn't what he wanted. Daniel believed in the promise of a king-free Massachusetts and America. A militiaman turned continental captain, he fought bravely at Bunker Hill, at Saratoga, at Stony Point. General George Washington personally selected him to guard Major John Andre in the final moments before the British officers hanging. But Congress, which, as we know from Episodes 11 and 14, has no power to tax under the current Articles of Confederation, never properly paid him for his years of service. All Daniel received were nearly worthless IOU certificates. And now, under the influence of coastal merchants, the likewise strapped-for-cash Massachusetts state government has raised taxes and demanded payment, not in farm goods or Congressional IOUs, but in coin. And the courts are foreclosing on farmers who can't pay.

In short, Massachusetts is facing a cascading cash crisis, and the state's western farmers, many of whom bled and risked their lives for the state's liberty, are being forced to bear the brunt. But these farmers, who have tried to play nice, some have sold their IOUs for pennies on the dollar. Daniel even sold the sword given to him by the Marquis de Lafayette have hit the breaking point. And it's not like soldiering against an oppressive, tax-happy government is unfamiliar to them. So here they go again.

That is how former Continental Captain Daniel Shays came to lead this farmer army, now trudging through the snow to reach the federal arsenal in Springfield, where they planned to arm themselves with its 7,000 brand-new muskets and bayonets, 1,300 barrels of black powder, a few pieces of artillery and, of course, all the shot they need to continue fighting against the state. There's just one problem. The state militia is here too, guarding the armory.

In front of the Springfield Armory stands Massachusetts Militia General William Shepard. This is a federal armory, but with Congress too broke and too short on troops to send a force, and Massachusetts wary of Congress meddling in its affairs, it's the state militia, not the US Army, that's here today. Now, William is watching his messengers. Major Lyman and Captain Buffington parlay with Daniel Shays and his aides, about 250 yards in the distance. What a mess.

To William and other state or even Congressional leaders, this is exactly the kind of mob that too much democracy can bring. All these farmers have to do is pay their taxes and they can vote. Their grievances are nothing like those of the Revolution. Moreover, word has it these farmers are anarchists who want to get rid of all personal property. Well, if true, that's crazy and definitely not what William, a former Continental Colonel, thought to create. Hence, his messengers are telling Daniel Shays and his men to disperse. Or else.

Ah, and here comes Major Lyman and Captain Buffington now, returning from their parley.

They deliver Daniel's reply, the farmers will not disperse. And off in the distance, yes, these rebels are advancing in columns.

Turning to Major William Stevens of the artillery, General William Shepard orders a warning shot. The cannon fire rips through the freezing afternoon air. But the farmers remain resolute. They continue marching forward. The Major tries a second time, again firing well over the farmers' heads, hoping to dissuade them. No dice. Their advance continues. If anything, the warning shot only seems to have invigorated the 400 old soldiers at the front of the charge, led by yet another revolutionary vet, Captain James White. Moving in eight-man-deep formations, the farmers quicken their march to a trot. This fight is on.

William's done what he can to avoid blood. If they want to throw down, it's so be it. The Militia General has the cannon's trajectory lowered to waistband height. The cannonballs fly right at the column of farmers. As they do, an out-of-sight howitzer unleashes deadly grape shot. Three farmers are dead on the spot. Others ride in pain, as they grab at their torn flesh and feel hot blood going through their fingers, right into the ice cold, four foot deep snow, as the rest of their forces break in retreat. One of them will yet die, bringing the total fatalities to four.

Welcome to History That Doesn't Suck. I'm your professor, Greg Jackson, and I'd like to tell you a story.

Name after the former continental captain leading it, Shays Rebellion ran through the winter of 1786 to 87 Fully broken shortly after this January showdown we just witnessed, this rebellion left the state's elites hungry to make examples of its leaders. But John Hancock would have none of it. Recently returned to the governor's office, the 50-year-old Bostonian wisely eased tensions by securing pardons for the chief instigators, even for Daniel Shays. But the impact of Shays Rebellion was far from over. Americans across the 13 sovereign states were terrified. Those farmers attacked a federal arsenal. Yet, Massachusetts dealt with it, proving just how weak Congress is. That has Americans thinking. As much as each state likes its sovereignty and independence, and we'll get to that. Maybe it's time to give Congress, that is the United States, enough power to actually do its job, like regulate interstate trade and put down armed rebellions.