Who led 2,000 farmers in a
rebellion against the state of
Massachusetts in 1786?
A. Daniel Shays
C. Richard Henry Lee
B. James Madison
D. George Washington
Daniel Shays was a farmer and former soldier who led a rebellion against the state of Massachusetts in 1786. The rebellion, known as Shays' Rebellion, was a protest against the state's high taxes and heavy debt burden, which were causing financial hardship for many farmers. Shays and his followers, who numbered around 2,000, sought to shut down the courts and prevent the state from seizing their property for non-payment of taxes. The rebellion was ultimately put down by the state militia, but it highlighted the need for a stronger federal government and helped pave the way for the drafting of the United States Constitution.