The Shays Rebellion
U.S. HISTORY
Set in 1787 in the aftermath of the attack on the federal armory in Springfield, Massachusetts, students take on the roles of Farmers, Regulators, Bankers and Merchants. After being introduced to the situation, students work with other members of their group to define their values.
Then students will debate and vote on how Massachusetts should handle:
Finance - What should the state do about its debts?
Representation - Who deserves a say in government?
Law - How do we keep Massachusetts safe?
GET STARTED
Role-plays take roughly 60-90 minutes for a class to play through. To run the role-play over multiple days, use the link VOXPOP will send you to re-open your session.
Create a different session for each class that you intend to use this role-play with.
Not sure how sessions work? Feel free to create a session and step through it to get a feel for the role-play. You can create as many sessions as you need.
PREPARE TO LEAD THE ROLE-PLAY BY REVIEWING THIS OUTLINE
OUTLINE
The VOXPOP software will deliver this content to students during the role-play. Use this outline to familiarize yourself with the content of the scenario, the roles students will be assigned and the choices they will be asked to make.
DETAILS
Students: 6 to 50
Running Time: 60-80 minutes (the role-play can be broken into multiple sessions)
FACILITATION GUIDE
BACKGROUND
This video provides historical context.
ROLES
Students are assigned to the following groups:
Banker
Bankers loaned money to the state of Massachusetts. Now it's time for the state government to pay them back. A state must pay back its debts – or else, who will ever trust MA?
Farmer
Farmers, many veterans of the Revolutionary War, are trapped by debts and high taxes. They believe the state should respect its veterans, not tax them into poverty!
Merchant
Merchants believe that only responsible citizens should have a say in government. Our state will fall apart if dangerous people take control!
Regulator
Regulators in western Massachusetts led the rebellion against the state government. They say we had to rebel just as we rebelled against the British. No taxation without representation!
THE ISSUES
These videos will provide students with more detailed background on specific issues.
Finance
How should the state handle its debts?
Proposals students consider:
Devalue state notes
Pay back notes based on how much investors paid. Someone who bought a $20 state note for 50 cents will get 50 cents.
Sell public land
Sell unused public land and use the money to cover state expenses. This would permit the state to lower taxes.
Representation
Who deserves a say in government?
Proposals students consider:
Disqualification act
For 3 years, rebels may not vote, sit on juries, or hold any civil office, even if they are elected.
Move capital to central M.A.
Move the capital from Boston, a coastal city, to Springfield, a town in central Massachusetts.
Law
How do we keep Massachusetts safe?
Proposals students consider:
Riot act
Sheriffs can stop gatherings of 12 or more armed people. Resisters will be imprisoned and lose all property.
Oath of allegiance
If rebels sign confessions and take an oath of allegiance to the state, they will not be executed or imprisoned.
EPILOGUE
A short video that lets students know what really happened.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Here are a few suggested discussion questions to pose at the end of the role-play. Please feel free to use your own.
What similarities do you see between the Shays Rebellion and political conflicts today?
When is it justified for the government to disperse a protest?
CREDITS
Production
Jenny Lim
Mattia Romeo
Greg Trefry
Testing & Evaluation
Camillia Matuk
Talia Hurwich
Sources
Leonard L. Richards, Shays's Rebellion: The American Revolution's Final Battle, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2002.
Media
Library of Congress
Special Thanks
Richard Kermond
Steve Swett
Heather Willinger
Raj Nanda
Mordecai Moore
Nicole Sanderson
Matthew Goldman