1. Select either Shays' Rebellion or ADA, 1990. Discuss how your chosen event/legislation is either an example of Freedom vs. Order or Freedom vs. Equality.
Shay’s Rebellion is an example of Freedom vs. Order. Shay’s Rebellion was the result of the new, post-revolutionary government based on equal liberty beginning to fail. The farmers represented “Freedom”, while the merchants represented “Order.” The farmers were getting slammed by heavy land taxes and felt their newfound “rights” that the revolutionary war had given them were being infringed upon by the debtors’ court. The merchants believed that everything was going well, and wanted to continue with the new government that was leading them to a more cosmopolitan rather than agrarian lifestyle, which is what they were striving for. The farmers wanted more economic freedom, while the merchants wanted governmental order.
2. What freedoms are most important to you?
Freedom of press and freedom of speech are the most important freedoms to me. Freedom of press creates accountability between the government and citizens and an informed citizenry. It also promotes the free unhindered exchange of ideas allowed by freedom of speech..
3. What freedoms are you willing to give up in an effort to maintain order?
I am not willing to give up any of my freedoms. The freedoms I have are important to me. We have order in our society today. Trying to remove these freedoms would most likely result in civil unrest.
4. After September 11 there was great discussion of furthering order to keep our nation safe. For example, many individuals argued for the right of the government to be able to increase its wiretapping powers in order to avert terrorist acts. Do you think the government should do more to keep citizens safe? Why or why not? What things would you be willing (or unwilling) to give up in order to maintain safety?
I think the measures that government has taken since September 11 are sufficient enough to keep us safe. Additional measures do not need to be taken. I definitely would not be willing to give up right to bear arms.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Shays’ Rebellion took place in 1787, when Daniel Shays led a rebellion to seize Federal arsenal to protest debtor’s prisons. Daniel Shays proposed a battle to Luke Day of West Springfield Massachusetts, for a battle on January 5th 1787. Day sent a message to Shays that he would not have his army ready by then, and that the battle should take place January 6th instead. The message never reached Shays, and therefore, he and his army attacked the unarmed, and unorganized army of Day on the 5th. The rebellion shocked and baffled, many U.S. leaders at the time, and eventually led to a few changes to the nations government. It would now become a stronger central government, which was the true basis for what our government is today.…
- 1508 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
Shays’ Rebellion can be considered a dispute with New England farmers and tradespersons that upset the new republic plunging the disconnected states to the brink of a civil war. The rebellion started in 1786 in Massachusetts and eventually spread into neighboring states finally crowning in a fruitless attack on a federal armory in Springfield. The rebellion began to wind down in 1787 most likely due to the election of a new governor that demonstrated a good example of local political conflict in the shadows post-revolution. Outlying factors that I believe played a role in the decline of the rebellion as well would be an economic upturn and the creation of…
- 147 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
I do not think Shay’s Rebellion went too far because farmers like Shay had little money, and the American Revolutionary war was going on. The army needed money for the war so they started to tax the colonies, so now the not wealthy people (farmers) would get put in jail or their land would be taken away. Most of these farmers had a family so if their land was taken away from them how could they provide for their own family. The farmers had to do something about it, they tried to stop the taxation the legal way with petitions but the courthouse just ignored them. In the textbook it says, “In 1787 angry farmers lashed out.”…
- 245 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Shays’ rebellion was an armed uprising in Massachusetts mostly around Springfield during 1786 through 1787. Daniel Shays was a revolutionary war veteran and he had lead around 4000 rebels that were rising up against economic injustices and civil rights suspensions in Massachusetts. In other words, too many taxes and political corruption. The cause was because when the revolutionary war was over, John Hancock and some merchants had to raise the prices of items and tax more and more people and wouldn’t bring the taxations down. Daniel Shays had seen this was a problem because there were a lot of angry colonists, so he had started a rebellion so that everything could be back to the way it used to be or better.…
- 124 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Shay's Rebellion is more than a simple act of civil disobedience of citizens against their government. There were a lot of key causes and factors to Shay's Rebellion. All of theses factors and problems added up cause an uproar. The Rebellion in itself was not that big of a rebellion, however it did create a very big impact on the leaders of the nation. The Rebellion occurred in many places all over the new colonies, but most of the effect of the Rebellion took place at Massachusetts.…
- 611 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Shay’s rebellion was an uprising that took place in Massachusetts during 1786 and 1787. It all started when the rebels attempted to capture the federal arsenal at Springfield. The state government became aware of the rebellion and decided to act quick and crush it. The rebellion did not threaten the United States, it did alarm politicians and made them think they needed to revise or replace the Articles of Confederation.…
- 70 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
2. What are the three reasons why the liberties claimed by some people become major issues?…
- 433 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Fingerprinted, Questioned about personal background and U.S government, Proved I know basic English, and take an Oath of Loyalty.…
- 323 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
However, the reality of a weak central government hurt its citizens more than it helped them. Shays’ rebellion demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and also revealed how the articles denied Americans the freedom they were promised in fighting and winning against the British. Through the unfair taxation of American farmers, laborers, and small business owners, middle and lower class Americans were becoming just as unfree as they were before the war. From this dissent with Boston tax collectors about the fairness of the taxation, Shay and fellow Americans assented to fight for their freedom of taxation with representation. Shays Rebellion gave notice to the politicians that change was…
- 942 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects five fundamental freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances. These freedoms collectively form the bedrock of individual liberty, creating an environment where citizens can express themselves, participate in civic life, and hold their government accountable. Freedom of religion ensures that individuals have the right to practice their faith or choose not to, without interference from the government. Freedom of speech guarantees the right to express opinions and ideas, even those that may be unpopular or controversial; this freedom extends beyond mere verbal expression to encompass artistic, symbolic, and symbolic…
- 1341 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Interest groups are groups of people that work together on the behalf of a particular belief or topic. They have had an increasingly large impact on American politics. One interest group that is currently experiencing a lot of power is the National Organization of Women, also known as NOW. They fight very strongly for the rights of all women no matter her background or ethnicity.…
- 781 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Many people think rebellions are a bad thing. Those people probably do not know that there were three rebellions that would change America for the better. The three rebellions happened in three key states/colonies. Shays’ Rebellion was in Massachusetts, the Whiskey Rebellion was in Pennsylvania and Bacon’ Rebellion was in the colony of Virginia. The most important rebellion was Shays’ Rebellion because it gave this country the need for a stronger central government.…
- 608 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Freedom of speech was granted to Americans in the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This freedom can be in the form of a peaceful protest or even a remark against the government. Without freedom of speech, it would be as though America had a dictatorship and no individual could speak of what they wished. Likewise, Americans would never rise up against what they did not agree with. Throughout American history freedom of speech has played a tremendous part in shaping the fundamentals of this nation. During the civil rights movement in the 1960’s, many civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King used their freedom of speech privilege to protest the many injustices they faced. Without these memorable protests, this country may still be a segregated nation. Freedom of press allows newspapers and television, as well as other forms of broadcasts, to say whatever they wish as long as it is reality. During presidential elections, candidates cannot hide from the press. Every flaw is shown to American public so that they can make their own judgment with all the facts provided.…
- 497 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
I partially agree partially with the United States’ response to the attacks in terms of security measures and then the other part of me just shakes my head and wonder what it is the people in charge are thinking. I feel that with such high powered branches of government and security that the events of 9/11 should have never taken place. I appreciate the higher security to an extent at the airport but then it shouldn’t have taken such a tragic event for them have such high security measures in place then on the other side of the scope it’s inconvenient for everyone else involved to have to adjust to new procedures when the government dropped the ball. Going to war wasn’t the answer at all to punish someone for taking lives we go takes lives of their nation by risking the lives of more people from ours…I’m extremely confused with this practice.…
- 1154 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
There are many freedoms that we as citizens in the United States have. But which freedom most appeals to you? To me, freedom of speech is the most interesting. Why? It gives us, as citizens the right to speak! Freedom of Speech is the right to freely express ourselves, encompassing all types of expression, including the freedom to create and distribute movies, take photographs, paint, write songs, make up dances, dress how you want and all other forms of expressive communication.…
- 499 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays