Question

What caused Daniel Shays to sell off half of his land after the American Revolution?

Answer 1

Daniel Shays may have sold off half his land to pay off his debts or his family's debts. 

Massachusetts was Daniel Shays home. In this area, a lot of farmers were in debt and others find it difficult to pay off their debts. Those who were unable to pay their debts were sent into prison, making life more difficult for the farmers and their families.

Daniel Shays was a leader of a revolt against Massachusetts government. They protested the against the high taxes imposed on their lands as well as the forceful seizure of farmlands by the local sheriffs. The rebellion was identified as Shays' Rebellion. 

Answer 2

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

Daniel Shay had to sell off half of his land after the American Revolution because he had so many debts. After he received his pardon, the moved from Pelham to New York in 1795,  an attempt to improve his difficult economic situation. By 1805 he had sold half of his land and moved again to Sparta, with a daughter. When he was 77, he submitted a petition to Congress under a pension act ti receive assistance to indigent veterans of the Continental Army that had fought during the Revolutionary War. Let's remember that he was the leader of the Shay's Rebellion in Massachusetts.