What did Shay's Rebellion highlight about the Articles of Confederation?

Shay's Rebellion was a pivotal event that underscored significant weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation, particularly regarding the federal government's inability to maintain public order. The rebellion, which took place in the late 1780s in Massachusetts, involved a group of farmers protesting against economic injustices and the lack of governmental response to those grievances. The federal government, under the Articles of Confederation, lacked the authority and capability to suppress the uprising effectively. This highlighted a critical flaw: the central government did not have the power to raise a standing army or provide for national defense, revealing that the states were primarily responsible for law enforcement, which they struggled to coordinate.

The inability to maintain public order due to such limitations in governance led to broader discussions about the necessity of a stronger federal government, ultimately contributing to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. The other choices touch on different aspects of governance, but they do not specifically address the immediate issues that Shay's Rebellion brought to light regarding public order.