The effect of Shay's Rebellion on attendance by delegates at the planned Constitutional Convention of 1787 was to

• A. Encourage attendance by delegates fearing the collapse of state governments
• B. Encourage attendance by delegates fearing intervention by the British
• C. Discourage attendance by delegates fearing public outcry against any strengthening of the Articles
• D. Discourage attendance by delegates who fought in the Revolutionary War.

Answer: (A)

Shay's Rebellion demonstrated that the Articles of Confederation left states vulnerable to civil disorder and unable to guarantee domestic order, highlighting the peril of weak centralized authority. This crisis convinced many leaders that a stronger national government was necessary to prevent state governments from collapsing under popular uprisings and to maintain order. Seeing that the current system could not manage unrest, delegates were encouraged to attend the planned Constitutional Convention to design a new framework with enough power to stabilize the country. The issue wasn’t fear of British intervention or backlash against strengthening the Articles, and it didn’t hinge on whether Revolutionary War veterans would be discouraged; it was the clear need for a more capable federal structure to preserve order that drove attendance.