Final answer:
Tax farming was a prevalent system in Massachusetts from 1450-1750, leading to economic burdens on farmers and instances of tax resistance such as Shays' Rebellion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tax farming was a system where the government sold the rights to collect taxes to private individuals or groups. During the period from 1450-1750, tax farming was common in various states across the world, especially where centralized governments and well-developed bureaucracies were not prevalent. In the context of the United States, before its independence, states like Massachusetts had various economic policies that placed a heavy burden on farmers, leading to instances like Shays' Rebellion, indicating a form of tax resistance against state policies and economic hardship. This historical period includes the transition from feudal forms of governance, including tribute systems and land rents, to more centrally collected forms of taxation.