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Collection Reference Number GLC02437.03385
From Archive Folder The Henry Knox Papers [0078] September-December 1786 
Title Henry Knox to George Washington with updates on Shays' Rebellion
Date 21 December 1786
Author Knox, Henry (1750-1806)  
Recipient Washington, George  
Document Type Correspondence; Military document; Government document; Business and financial document
Content Description Writes, "The insurgents who were assembled at Worcester in Massachusetts have disbanded- The people at Boston seem to be glad at this event and say it was the effect of fear- But the fact is that the insurgents effected their object, which was to prevent the Court of Common Pleas from proceeding to business. It is probable that the seizing some of the insurgents at Middlesex occasioned a greater number of them to assemble at Worcester than otherwise would have assembled merely on Account of preventing the common Pleas." Adds that it appears that the government planned to bring the insurgents to action but was prevented by uncommonly deep snow. Declares, "The commotions of Massachusetts have wrought prodigious changes in the minds of men in that State respecting the Powers of Government every body says they must be strengthned, and that unless this shall be effected, there is no Security for liberty or Property." Hopes to see Washington along with Colonel [Jeremiah] Wadsworth in Philadelphia in a few days. Retained copy.
Subjects Revolutionary War General  President  Mobs and Riots  Rebellion  Shays' Rebellion  Judiciary  Government and Civics  Prisoner  Law  Military History  US Constitution  Articles of Confederation  
People Knox, Henry (1750-1806)  Washington, George (1732-1799)  Wadsworth, Jeremiah (1743-1804)  
Place written New York, New York
Theme Government & Politics; Creating a New Government; The Presidency
Sub-collection The Henry Knox Papers
Copyright The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
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