What event highlighted the need for a stronger national government?

The emphasis on Shay's Rebellion as the event that highlighted the need for a stronger national government stems from the significant unrest it caused in the post-Revolutionary War period. Shay's Rebellion was a series of protests in 1786 and 1787 by American farmers, particularly in Massachusetts. Many of these farmers were struggling under heavy debts and faced the threat of losing their farms due to high taxes imposed by the state government.

The rebellion exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first governing document, which established a confederation of sovereign states with a very weak central government that lacked the authority to raise taxes, maintain a standing army, or enforce laws. The federal government's inability to intervene effectively during the uprising demonstrated the urgent need for a stronger national government capable of maintaining order and addressing economic instability.

This crisis ultimately led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where delegates sought to reform the inadequate framework of the Articles of Confederation, culminating in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. The recognition that a stronger federal government was essential for ensuring civil order and economic stability was a direct result of the events surrounding Shay's Rebellion.