What event in 1786 demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

• A. Shays' Rebellion
• B. The Boston Tea Party
• C. The Continental Congress
• D. The War of 1812

Answer: (A)

Shays' Rebellion showed that the central government under the Articles of Confederation could not tax or raise an army to handle internal threats. Congress didn’t have the power to levy funds, so it couldn’t quickly respond to a domestic uprising. Massachusetts had to use its own militia to quell the rebellion led by farmers upset about taxes and foreclosures, highlighting how weak national authority was and how fragile unity among the states could be. This event underscored the need for a stronger framework to maintain order, regulate economics, and defend the country, helping push the move toward a new constitution. By contrast, the Boston Tea Party happened earlier in the colonial era, the Continental Congress refers to the governing body during the Revolution rather than a 1786 event, and the War of 1812 occurred long after the Articles were replaced.