Format
1. The students will begin by examining a quote and think about how it relates to Shays Rebellion.
2. Students will engage in a discussion about the Articles of Confederation and the pros and cons of having a system of government where the states are stronger than the national government.
3. Students will engage in the simulation where they each take on a role during Shays Rebellion. They will then get into assigned groups and create an argument as to who is to blame for the rebellion.
4.Each group will present their argument in the mock trial and the jury will come to a conclusion.
5. The students will end the lesson with an exit ticket.
Objectives
1. Identify the different parties involved in Shays Rebellion and explain their reasons for supporting or suppressing the rebellion.
2. Create an argument supporting one of the parties and defend their position in a trial.
3. Explain, using Shays Rebellion as an example, how people can create reform in Society
Standards Alignment
State Standards
Massachusetts Standards
5th Grade, Topic 2: 9. Analyze the causes of Shays’ Rebellion of 1786-1787 and explain why it was one of the crucial events leading to the Constitutional Convention
-9: Analyze the causes of Shays’ Rebellion of 1786-1787 and explain why it was one of the crucial
events leading to the Constitutional Convention.
8th Grade, Topic 2: The development of the United States government
-2: Analyze the weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation; and
describe the crucial events (e.g., Shays’ Rebellion) leading to the Constitutional Convention.
Hight School (9-12) United States History, Topic 1: Origins of the Revolution and the Constitution
-7: Explain the reasons for the adoption of the Articles of Confederation in 1781 and evaluate the
weaknesses of the Articles as a plan for government, the reasons for their failure and how events
such as Shays’ Rebellion of 1786-1787 led to the Constitutional Convention.