Why didn't the Articles of Confederation stop Shays' Rebellion sooner?

• A. The government wasn't allowed to raise an army.
• B. The rebellion had strong local support.
• C. The militia refused to fight.
• D. The government chose not to act due to fear of setting a precedent.

Answer: (A)

Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government could not raise funds or compel states to provide troops or maintain a standing army. When Shays’ Rebellion erupted, Congress could only request aid from the states and had no means to quickly deploy a national force. Massachusetts had to rely on its own militia to respond, and without federal troops, the rebellion persisted longer than it might have. This fundamental weakness—the inability of the central government to muster military power—helped show why a stronger framework was needed, setting the stage for the move toward a new constitution.