Editing Shays's Rebellion (section)

=== Influence upon ratification ===
When the constitution had been drafted, Massachusetts was viewed by Federalists as a state that might not ratify it, because of widespread anti-Federalist sentiment in the rural parts of the state. Massachusetts Federalists, including Henry Knox, were active in courting swing votes in the debates leading up to the state's ratifying convention in 1788. When the vote was taken on February 6, 1788, representatives of rural communities involved in the rebellion voted against ratification by a wide margin, but the day was carried by a coalition of merchants, urban elites, and market town leaders. The state ratified the constitution by a vote of 187 to 168.<ref>Szatmary, p. 133</ref>

Historians are divided on the impact the rebellion had on the ratification debates. Robert Feer notes that major Federalist pamphleteers rarely mentioned it and that some anti-Federalists used the fact that Massachusetts survived the rebellion as evidence that a new constitution was unnecessary.<ref>Feer, p. 404</ref> Leonard Richards counters that publications like the ''[[Pennsylvania Gazette]]'' explicitly tied anti-Federalist opinion to the rebel cause, calling opponents of the new constitution "Shaysites" and the Federalists "Washingtonians".<ref>Richards, p. 139</ref>

David Szatmary argues that debate in some states was affected, particularly in Massachusetts, where the rebellion had a polarizing effect.<ref>Szatmary, pp. 128–132</ref> Richards records [[Henry Jackson (Continental Army general)|Henry Jackson's]] observation that opposition to ratification in Massachusetts was motivated by "that cursed spirit of insurgency", but that broader opposition in other states originated in other constitutional concerns expressed by Elbridge Gerry, who published a widely distributed pamphlet outlining his concerns about the vagueness of some of the powers granted in the constitution and its lack of a [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]].<ref>Richards, pp. 141–143</ref>

The military powers enshrined in the constitution were soon put to use by President George Washington. After the passage by the United States Congress of the [[Whiskey Act]], protest against the taxes it imposed began in western [[Pennsylvania]]. The protests escalated and Washington led federal and state militia to put down what is now known as the [[Whiskey Rebellion]].<ref>Richards, pp. 135–136</ref>