Final answer:
The U.S. government struggled to respond to Shays' Rebellion because the Articles of Confederation did not provide the ability to raise an army or collect taxes. Individual states pursued their own agendas, further complicating a unified response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Challenges in Responding to Shays' Rebellion
The U.S. government found it difficult to respond to Shays' Rebellion due to the inherent weaknesses within the Articles of Confederation. These weaknesses included the lack of a standing national army and the inability to impose taxes necessary to raise funds for an army. The autonomous nature of the states under the Confederation also posed a problem, as states pursued their own interests and sometimes ignored the Congress.
During the time of the rebellion, not only was the national government struggling financially and unable to pay debts from the American Revolution, but it also lacked coercive power to enforce laws or suppress a rebellion. The uprising, led by Daniel Shays and other farmers, was triggered by heavy debt, high taxes, and financial struggles faced by those who had served in the Revolution but had not been compensated adequately.
Massachusetts, facing the direct impact of the rebellion, raised a private army funded by Boston merchants, since the national government could not provide assistance. This action by Governor James Bowdoin did not involve the legislature's approval, further highlighting the fragmented response capabilities of the time. Ultimately, the rebellion was put down by state forces, but the incident underscored the urgent need for a stronger federal government, which eventually led to the Constitutional Convention and the creation of the U.S. Constitution.