* 1780-1783: The Revolutionary War devastated the Massachusetts economy. The state's currency was inflated, and farmers were often unable to pay their debts.
* 1784: The Massachusetts legislature passed a series of laws increasing taxes and foreclosing on farms.
* 1785-1786: Daniel Shays, a former captain in the Continental Army, organized a series of protests against the new laws.
Shay's Rebellion
* August 1786: Shays and his followers, known as the Regulators, began raiding courthouses and preventing foreclosures.
* September 1786: Governor James Bowdoin declared martial law and called out the militia.
* January 1787: The Regulators marched on the Springfield Armory, but were met by a force of militia and scattered.
* February 1787: Shays and other leaders of the rebellion were arrested and charged with treason.
The Aftermath of Shay's Rebellion
* 1787: The Massachusetts legislature passed a new constitution that addressed many of the grievances of the Regulators.
* 1788: Massachusetts ratified the United States Constitution, becoming the sixth state to do so.