THOMAS JEFFERSON ON SHAYS' REBELLION
by Thomas Jefferson 1787

The British ministry have so long hired their gazetteers to repeat, and model into every form, lies about our being in anarchy, that the world has at length believed them, the English nation has believed them, the ministers themselves have come to believe them, and what is more wonderful, we have believed them ourselves.

Yet where does this anarchy exist? Where did it ever exist, except in the single instance of Massachusetts? And can history produce an instance of rebellion so honorably conducted? I say nothing of its motives. They were founded in ignorance, not wickedness. God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion…

What country before, ever existed a century and a half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them…

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure. Our convention has been too much impressed by the insurrection of Massachusetts; and on the spur of the moment, they are setting up a kite to keep the hen yard in order. The British ministry have so long hired their gazetteers to repeat, and model into every form, lies about our being in anarchy, that the world has at length believed them, the English nation has believed them, the ministers themselves have come to believe them, and what is more wonderful, we have believed them ourselves.

Yet where does this anarchy exist? Where did it ever exist, except in the single instance of Massachusetts? And can history produce an instance of rebellion so honorably conducted? I say nothing of its motives. They were founded in ignorance, not wickedness. God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion…

What country before, ever existed a century and a half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them…

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure. Our convention has been too much impressed by the insurrection of Massachusetts; and on the spur of the moment, they are setting up a kite to keep the hen yard in order.

1. PART A: Which of the following best describes a central idea of the text?

A. A lack of revolutions in the early years of the United States made it difficult for the nation to maintain the spirit of resistance that is needed in a democracy.
B. A country is secure only if it creates a strong central government that can deter rebels from resisting the orders of the government.
C. Groups of citizens that are intent on rebelling cannot be trusted to make a positive contribution to society.
D. A rebellion is not a call for more governmental control, rather it is a practice exercised in a free nation.

2. PART B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A?

A. “The British ministry have so long hired their gazetteers to repeat, and model into every form, lies about our being in anarchy” ( Paragraph 1)
B. “They were founded in ignorance, not wickedness.” ( Paragraph 2)
C. “Yet where does this anarchy exist?” ( Paragraph 2)
D. “And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance?” ( Paragraph 3)

3. PART A: Which of the following phrases best explains what Jefferson means by the line “God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion” (Paragraph 2)?

A. Continuous rebellion in the United States will have a positive impact on the country as a whole.
B. Without consistent revolutions, patriots will gain control of the most important positions of power in a democracy.
C. The only way to prevent a tyrant from ruling a country is to reveal their ignorance and wickedness to the people.
D. The rebellion in Massachusetts was led by tyrants who wanted to take over the country for their own benefit.

4. PART B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A?

A, “the world has at length believed them, the English nation has believed them, the ministers themselves have come to believe them, and what is more wonderful, we have believed them ourselves” ( Paragraph 1)
B. “And can history produce an instance of rebellion so honorably conducted?” ( Paragraph 2)
C. “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants” ( Paragraph 3)
D. “Our convention has been too much impressed by the insurrection of Massachusetts” ( Paragraph 4)