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.
a. Shays’ Rebellion is an excellent example of Freedom vs. Equality. Most farmers had been Revolutionary War veterans and were only given government certificates promising money in the future. The first hardship these farmers had to face was the constant tension of not receiving their pay. Therefore, those certificates were sold for less than they were supposed to be worth, but it still provided something for the farmers. The farmers had no “freedom” from the government, as they were being heavily taxed on their own land. Soon after, these farmers had to face inequalities since they did not have enough money to pay off the tax. They were in debt, which led them to debtors’ court, and could be threatened by prison. The rebels from Shays’ Rebellion had limited freedom from the government on their land and faced inequalities for being in a poor financial structure for being farmers. These two frustrations made rebelling seem like the only logical option left.