Rebels Attack Springfield Arsenal
On this day in 1787, 2,000 farmers from western Massachusetts attacked the new federal arsenal at Springfield. The government soldiers returned fire, killing three of the farmers. This was the beginning of the end of the uprising known as Shays' Rebellion, named for Daniel Shays, the man who led the insurgents. Western farmers had made economic sacrifices during the Revolution, and they were outraged when creditors demanded that they pay their debts immediately. They blamed the eastern merchants who controlled the legislature and the courts, and sought to assert their independence. The effort ended in defeat. 200 rebels were captured and tried for treason. Five were sentenced to death. John Hancock pardoned them all, within weeks of being elected governor.
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