Shays' Rebellion occurred in 1786-1787 in western Massachusetts due to post-war economic hardship faced by farmers. Many farmers were in debt after not being paid for their service in the Revolutionary War and faced high taxes and foreclosures on their land. They blamed the government for favoring merchants over farmers by not implementing policies like allowing the use of paper money that would help ease their debt burden. In response to rising tensions, the government suspended habeas corpus and allowed imprisonment of debtors, further angering farmers and leading to an armed rebellion against the courts.