Question

historical background - shays rebellion
the revolutionary war ended in 1783. the soldiers who had fought were finally allowed to return home. with the war over, the united states now had to deal with the debt accumulated from the war. the treasury was empty, however, the soldiers of the continental army had not yet been paid for their service.
daniel shays was one of those continental soldiers. he had fought throughout the war, including the battle of bunker hill and the battle of saratoga. he was wounded in 1780, and traveled back home to massachusetts. once there, he found out that there were some new taxes on his land. shays did not have the money to pay those taxes. he had never been paid for his military service, even though he had fought in the war for several years.

1. what problems did daniel shays face as the war ended?
2. how did the government attempt to deal with the problem of soldier payment?

the lack of reasonable pay had actually caused a mutiny among the troops while the war was occurring. now, without money to grant the soldiers their full back pay, emergency steps were taken to provide some support to the soldiers. a loan made it possible for the government to give each soldier one months pay in cash. washington also allowed soldiers to keep their uniforms and any other equipment they had been issued, including their muskets. soldiers also received government certificates that they could turn in for cash at a later date, though these \scrips\ were practically worthless to those who needed cash immediately.
in massachusetts, farmers and farmhands found that local merchants were requiring them to pay for any goods they purchased with actual currency - something that the former soldiers didnt have. the merchants needed the money to pay back loans they had taken from european investors in the war. the veterans sold their certificates, muskets, and other possessions to support themselves and their families, but it wasnt enough. daniel shays even sold a sword he had received from general lafayette in 1780 to help pay his debts. the people within the rural communities of massachusetts demanded that they receive tax relief, but it didnt happen. instead, by 1785, the state government raised taxes even higher to pay back the foreign debt massachusetts had accumulated from the war. the people of the state sent many petitions to boston asking for relief, but the government didnt respond.

1. how did the tax issue develop into a deeper problem in massachusetts?

Explanation:

1. Daniel Shays faced unpaid military - service wages and new land taxes he couldn't afford.
2. The government gave each soldier one - month's cash pay, allowed them to keep uniforms and equipment, and issued government certificates for later cash redemption.
3. Merchants required actual currency for purchases, veterans sold possessions to survive but it wasn't enough. The state government raised taxes instead of providing tax relief and ignored petitions.

Answer:

1. Unpaid military service and new land taxes he couldn't pay.
2. Gave one - month cash pay, allowed keeping uniforms/equipment, issued government certificates.
3. Merchants' currency demand, veterans' asset - selling, tax increase, and ignored petitions.