Final answer:
Shays' Rebellion aimed to stop the Massachusetts state government from imprisoning indebted farmers and to bring attention to economic hardships and inequalities. The insurrection's underlying issues played a key role in underscoring the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, though the rebellion's immediate goal was not to change them.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shays' Rebellion Goals and Purpose
The goal and purpose of Shays' Rebellion was primarily to make the Massachusetts state government stop the practice of jailing farmers for their unpaid debts and to address their economic grievances. The rebellion was a response to several issues that Massachusetts farmers faced post-Revolution: high taxes, crushing debts, and the inability to pay for their debts with farm goods, leading to widespread foreclosures. These financial strains, coupled with what was seen as excessive salaries for state government officials, led to the escalation of resistance, resulting in an insurrection led by Daniel Shays, who was a Revolutionary War veteran. Therefore, the correct answer is B. To make the state government stop jailing farmers for debts.
Although Shays' Rebellion was not directly aimed at changing the Articles of Confederation, the insurrection highlighted their deficiencies, particularly the national government's inability to raise an army to quell the uprising. This realization among national leaders contributed to the momentum for revising the Articles, ultimately leading to the Constitutional Convention and the creation of the U.S. Constitution.