Shays’ Rebellion
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All four include an image, vocabulary, comprehension questions, a follow-up reading, and teacher guidance. These English PDFs have selectable text; use the reading below for adjustable text and listening tools.
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Words to know
- debt
- money or something else that is owed
- protest
- show disagreement in public
- government
- the system that makes and carries out public decisions
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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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: Eli Whitney’s cotton gin
Eli Whitney, born in Westborough, developed a cotton gin. It separated seeds from cotton fibers. The machine sped up one task. Cotton growing expanded, and so did the demand for enslaved labor.
How are the two events connected or different? Their order does not prove that one caused the other.
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