Quock Walker and the constitution
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Words to know
- court
- a place or group that decides legal cases
- equality
- having equal rights or standing
- change
- become different
Quock Walker sought freedom through the courts. His cases helped challenge slavery. In 1783, Chief Justice William Cushing explained that slavery conflicted with the state constitution. People used the language of rights to demand change.
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What happened? Point to a detail that supports your answer. What does the picture help you understand? What would you like to investigate next?
Follow-up: Shays’ Rebellion
Many farmers struggled with debt and taxes. Some blocked courts and joined an armed uprising. Daniel Shays became one of its leaders. The conflict showed deep disagreement about government, fairness, and money.
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Research source for this event ↗
Susan Anne Livingston Ridley Sedgwick / Massachusetts Historical Society, public domain. Image source and rights ↗
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