Question

What sparked off Shays's Rebellion?

Answer 1

Welcome to OpenStudy!!!


It was caused by the small farmers in the area reacting angrily to crushing debt and heavy taxation. The huge war debt of the American government trickled down to the farmers by way of a head tax, which meant that small farmers with large families had to pay more than rich merchants with smaller families. Failure to pay could lead to loss of lands and imprisonment.

Hope I helped. :)

Answer 2

Shay's Rebellion was caused by a tax on the making of whiskey. Many farmers of western Pennsylvania would make whiskey from excess corn, Congress needed money and thought that taxing this would bring more income. The farmers were not happy and many banded together to stop the courts from seizing their land. (Land was being seized by the court to make up for the farmers' debts from taxing.)