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Good God!Notwithstanding the boasted virtue of
America, we are far gone in every thing that is
ignoble and bad.George Washington
Men Fighting During Shays Rebellion
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Shays Rebellion
What a triumph for our enemiesto find that we
are incapable of governing ourselves.

• August 1786-June 1787
• Daniel Shays ? Am. Rev. veteran
• 4,000 member militia called out to contain
• 6 people killed, dozens wounded, 2 hanged

"You talk, my good sir, of employing influence to
appease the present tumults in Massachusetts. I
know not where that influence is to be found, or,
if attainable, that it would be a proper remedy
for the disorders. Influence is not government.
Let us have a government by which our lives,
liberties, and properties will be secured, or let
us know the worst at once."
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time
to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
It is its natural manure."
the rural disturbances and the inability of the
central government to fund troops in response
made "the inefficiency of the Federal government
become more and more manifest."
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Calls for Action

• In , Virginia called for a convention at
  , Maryland
• Delegates from only states showed up!
• Hamilton called for Congress to summon a
  convention to meet in Philadelphia the next year
• On May 25, , 55 representatives (12
  states) met in Philadelphia to discuss government
  ? 
• Hoped to save the revolutionary idealism and make
  it into a strong political structure
• George Washington elected leader