USA HISTORY

PART A:Which of the following best describes a central idea of the text below?Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was the third president of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. In this 1787 letter, Jefferson writes to a friend about Shays’ Rebellion, an armed uprising that took place in Massachusetts because of rebels’ increasing dissatisfaction with state and federal government. The rebellion was organized by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays, who led 4, 000 people rebelling against perceived economic and civil liberties and injustices. Although Shays’ Rebellion was defeated, it prompted numerous national leaders to call for a stronger national government to suppress future rebellions. As you read, identify Jefferson’s opinion on revolution and whether or not he supports Shays’ rebellion.Paris, November 13, 17871 The British ministry have so long hired their gazetteers1 to repeat, and model into every form, lies about our being in anarchy, 2that 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.3 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 convention4 has been too much impressed by the insurrection of Massachusetts; and on the spur of the moment, they are setting up a kite5 to keep the hen yard in order.