Shays' Rebellion and the Constitution in American History [Library Binding]

Mary E. Hull (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2000 | Age Level: 10 and up | Series: In American History

Describes the attempted revolt of Massachusetts farmers and yeomen which revealed the instability of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger Constitution.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-10-A well-organized examination of the issues leading up to Shays's uprising in 1787 and its impact on American history. The development of the Regulators, farmers who rebelled against the Massachusetts government in order to break out of the economic cycle they had been forced to endure for a decade, and what they were able to achieve are related in a carefully documented, readable narrative. The lively writing enables readers to understand the frustration of the people involved. Subheadings give a brief account of the action and provide a nice outline on their own. Black-and-white photos and reproductions of documents are well chosen.-Julie Ventura, Fresno County Library System, CA

Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 112 pages
• Publisher: Enslow Publishers; Library ed edition (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0766014185
• ISBN-13: 978-0766014183
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,995,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful and informative, April 11, 2003

By 

Aaron Weiner (Pennsylvania, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shays' Rebellion and the Constitution in American History (Library Binding)

"Shays' Rebellion and the Constitution in American History" is part of a series of textbook-style short topics called "In American History". The author is a Brown graduate, Mary E. Hull. She tells the story simply. She starts with the climactic battle, then jumps back in time to its causes, then forward to its effects. This is her only flourish. Shays' Rebellion was an attempt by a loose-knit militia of New England landowners to seize a government arsenal. It was defeated handily, and prompted Thomas Jefferson's comment that "the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
"Shays' Rebellion" is a great source on the U.S.'s first ever growing pains. It describes fairly and evenhandedly the sources of discontent in New England and in America following the Revolution, and follows those threads up to the Bill of Rights. It could have done more to give the plutocrats' side of the issue, I suppose. But aside from its low reading level (it defines inflation and secede in the main text) this is what a history book should be. It's interesting if and only if you're interested, and doesn't try to change that. With a timeline, index, and bibliography, a clearly organized page and simple prose style, the book is at once a reference material and capable of being read in one sitting. I strongly recommend it for junior high classrooms, as a lesson both in history and civics.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is very well put., July 30, 2004

By 

D. R Hayes "D.R. Hayes" (Clermont, FL. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shays' Rebellion and the Constitution in American History (Library Binding)

I'm almost done this book. I'm 37 years young, and I'm reading a book for 5th graders. I am getting alot out of this book. I was taught very little about Shay's rebellion back in 5th grade, but not as in depth as I'm getting with this book. This is a very important segment of history that often is given a little bit of time to be taught. I feel sorrow for the farmer's back then as they just got back from fighting a big war, and helped America become free, and now the same people who pleaded with them to "Fight For The Cause" have now turned thier backs on them. To the farmer's they must've felt that it was a rich man's war, and now that they helped the American rich man break free from the British rich man it's time to abuse the American poor man again. I would read a part where Samuel Adams is quoted as saying that there's no need to raise arms up now. The war is over. I feel that Hull made a good point with this as it shows almost 250 years later it's still going on where one minute you're a revolutionary, and the next a sell-out yuppie. I feel that's what happened to Samuel Adams. I know that everyone had it hard after the war for independence was over, but I feel the same way as I do now that the farmers and merchants should've worked together, and not fight amongst themselves. The same way that Republicans and Democrats do these days competing to be the Messiah of the U.S.A. Let me tell you the Messiah for the U.S.A. died on a rugged cross over 2,000 years ago. It's time for the country to work as a team, and not feel "Our Way Is THE WAY".