9781422287569

10 The U.S. Constitution: Government by the People

war, farmers could often pay their debts by trading livestock or crops grown in their fields. Now, the store owners who sold them seed on credit and the bankers who loaned them money demanded to be repaid in gold or silver. In the years following the Revolutionary War, falling into debt was a serious offense, punishable by imprison- ment. By August of 1786, many farmers found them- selves so much in debt that they could no longer hold onto their farms. Their creditors would go to court and win the approval of judges to seize the farms and sell them at auction. Many farmers had to stand by helpless- ly while auctioneers sold their land to pay off their debts.

This is the front and back of a six dol- lar bill from the time of the American Revolution. After the colonies won their independence, they were faced with a money shortage and high taxes to pay for the war with England.