What did the farmers involved in Shays' Rebellion want?

The farmers involved in Shays' Rebellion wanted debt relief and economic concessions from the state government. During the 1780s, many small farmers in western Massachusetts were facing economic difficulties due to high taxes, debts, and a lack of hard currency. They had fought in the Revolutionary War and were struggling to make ends meet in the post-war economic downturn.

These financial pressures often led to farmers being unable to pay their debts or taxes, which in turn led to their property being seized and some being imprisoned for debt. This situation was exacerbated by the policies of the Massachusetts state government, which favored creditors and wealthier urban interests.

The protestors, led by Daniel Shays, a former captain in the Continental Army, sought several key reforms, including: 1. The issuance of paper money to increase the money supply and make it easier to pay off debt. 2. Lower taxes to reduce the financial burden on farmers. 3. Debt relief laws to help those who were submerged in debt and facing the loss of their property. 4. An end to property confiscations and imprisonment for debt.

The rebellion ultimately failed in a military sense when state militia forces suppressed it in 1787. However, Shays' Rebellion had a lasting impact on the United States as it highlighted the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation, which led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention and the creation of a stronger federal government under the U.S. Constitution.