Conflict between Daniel Shays rebels and government troops before the arsenal at Springfield on Jan. 26, 1787
Following the American Revolution, Daniel Shays and other farmers in Massachusetts initiated a rebellion, known as Shays’ Rebellion, due to the high taxes and mounting debt. The people's rebellion demonstrates the revolution, and the government's reaction to this was a significant turning point. The transition from the Articles of Confederation to the U.S. Constitution highlights the flaws in the government during this period. Shays’s Rebellion revealed that the Articles created a government too weak to handle economic problems or protect its citizens. The uprising convinced leaders that without reform, the nation risked an end. The rebellion became a major factor of building a stronger, more organized national government under the U.S. Constitution.