Shays' Rebellion is often regarded as the event that led Americans to want a stronger central government, but the story is not so simple. Opinions on the rebellion and the power of government varied, often along class lines. In this lesson, students will gain a more nuanced understanding of how Americans reacted to Shays' Rebellion by analyzing a textbook account and a letter by Thomas Jefferson.
![Image: Illustration of Daniel Shays and Job Shattuck from a 1787 almanac. From the Wikimedia Commons.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_image/public/lessons/2017-11/Daniel_Shays_and_Job_Shattuck.jpg?itok=wyLQ-Mzr)
Image: Illustration of Daniel Shays and Job Shattuck from a 1787 almanac. From the Wikimedia Commons.