Shays' rebellion of 1786 was significant because it

Shays' Rebellion showed that the Articles of Confederation were a terribly weak government. The government had no control over foreign trade, and this caused economic problems in America that led to Shays' Rebellion. Not only this, but the government had no power to raise an army to deal with the rebellion. The Governor of Massachusetts, James Bowdoin, showed impressive executive ability to deal with the crisis. This showed many that a strong executive branch was necessary to the state. The drafting of the Constitution began very shortly after Shays' Rebellion took place.