George Washington (1732-1799) selected Springfield, Massachusetts, as the site for an arms and ammunition manufactory, and an arsenal was established in 1778. Disgruntled farmers led by Daniel Shays (c.1747-1826) in an armed uprising against the state government unsuccessfully attacked the arsenal in 1787. In 1794, it became the first United States armory. The Springfield Armory was in operation until 1968, and produced the Springfield Rifle, which was used in the Civil War. Many important technological advances in the design and production of firearms happened at the Springfield Armory in its almost 200 year history.