Question

Thomas Jefferson on Shays’ Rebellion

Source: Thomas Jefferson was in France during Shays’ Rebellion, but he wrote a letter to a friend about it. 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.
Questions:
1. Sourcing: Who wrote this document? What else do you know about his views on a strong central government?
2. Contextualization: According to Jefferson, have the colonies been peaceful or chaotic? Support your answer with evidence from the document.
3. Close Reading: What does Jefferson mean when he says “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants?”

Answer 1

Thomas Jefferson wrote the document, expressing that the perception of anarchy in the colonies was exaggerated and largely limited to Massachusetts. Jefferson believed that rebellions serve as necessary reminders to those in power that the liberties of the people are safeguarded by their spirit of resistance. His famed phrase about the tree of liberty emphasizes the need for vigilance and occasional confrontation to maintain a free society.

Step-by-step explanation:

Thomas Jefferson, the writer of the document, is known for his complex views on strong central government. While he championed states' rights and feared an overly powerful federal government, his response to Shays’ Rebellion reveals a more nuanced perspective. He believed that occasional rebellions are part of maintaining liberty.

In context, Jefferson suggests the colonies have generally been peaceful. His letter argues against the perception that the colonies were in a state of anarchy, pointing out that such disorder was limited to Massachusetts and implying that fear was exaggerated.

When Jefferson states that "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants," he means that the vitality of a free society depends on the willingness of its people to stand up against oppression and to defend their rights, even if it means resorting to armed resistance. This serves as a reminder to those in power that the people's tolerance for tyranny has limits.

Answer 2

Jefferson was famously against a strong central government, and this passage proves it. He hated the idea of a strong federal government becoming tyrannical, which is why he supported the occasional rebellion to keep it in check.