MASSACHUSETTS – After I reunited with MHD in Boston and knew that we were heading west to the Foundation for Economic Education (more on this later!), I thought about potential stories we could cover. While doing something on the War for American Independence had potential I wanted for us to document and share stories that aren’t as well-known. Shays’ Rebellion definitely fit the bill.

Many folks haven’t heard of Shays’ Rebellion, including an inquiring barista at a Starbucks in the town (Springfield, MA) that played an integral part in the rebellion (though her colleague readily dropped related knowledge). But if the incident connotates any knee-jerk thoughts its what was preached in government schools – the rebellion demonstrated the failures of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger, more-centralized federal government through the United States Constitution.

Traveling west we first stopped by and took some b-roll at the Springfield Armory – which Daniel Shays and Shaysites (as they were called) attempted to seize – as well as South Egermont, in the southwest corner of the state – where the final battle in the rebellion took place.

Honestly, it’s difficult for me to say who was at fault in the rebellion. That’s why I was so grateful that Rob McDonald, a professor of history at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point agreed to give us an informative overview of what went down.

For more with Professor McDonald, including his thoughts on Thomas Jefferson, slavery, the ideas that underlay the War of American Independence and the difference between negative and positive rights, go to: MotorhomeDiaries.com/Rob-McDonald.