Final answer:
Shays's Rebellion was not directly a result of the Land Ordinance of 1785, but of the economic hardship faced by Revolutionary War veterans due to unpaid debts, increasing taxes, and lack of governmental support. The rebellion highlighted the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, ultimately leading to its amendments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Land Ordinance of 1785 did not directly spur Shays's Rebellion; however, the economic conditions resulting from the Revolutionary War and the subsequent financial policies did. Post-Revolution, many farmers were heavily in debt, facing imprisonment, and facing the loss of their lands due to unpaid taxes. Since these farmers were previously away fighting, their financial and land-owning situation worsened. The Continental Congress had promised to pay them, but due to a lack of funds and onerous new tax burdens imposed by Massachusetts, these promises went unfulfilled.
Further exacerbating the situation was the national government's incapacity to provide aid, as there was no power to raise an army and it had no troops at its disposal. This fueled discontent among the indebted farmers, leading to Shays's Rebellion led by Daniel Shays in 1786. The rebellion resulted in immediate upset and chaos, signaling to influential figures such as George Washington that the republic was falling into anarchy.
Even though the rebellion was suppressed in 1787, it had long-lasting effects and displayed a democratic impulse driving the population. The rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, sowing the seeds for amending the Articles to counter such insurgencies and provide greater stability in the United States.
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