The Articles of Confederation were weak and could not create an effective government for a new nation. They could not tax, enforce laws, or maintain and keep an army. All power was with the states and national government had no ways to accomplish anything within them. The new nation was in a major amount of debt. Shay's rebellion was led by farmers unable to keep their farms due to the massive accumulation of debt and printing of more money, making the money even more worthless.