On August 29,1786, Shays’ Rebellion — an armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers — began. It was the first tax rebellion after the successful one in 1775 – 1783, and it so spooked the political leaders of the federal government that they ordered some amendments to the Articles of Confederation — eventually reconfiguring the federation with the U.S. Constitution.
Though the rebellion is named after former revolutionary soldier Daniel Shays (August 1747 – September 29, 1825), his actual role is disputed.