Question

Why did Shays' rebellion send a wave of fear among wealthy merchants and landowners?

Group of answer choices
a. There was no national army to put down domestic unrest if it spread.
b. Officers worried about losing their back pay.
c. Bankers and other lenders feared the loss of loans to their national government
d. Shays planned to take money from the rich and give it to the poor.

Answer 1

Shays' Rebellion incited fear among wealthy individuals due to (a) the lack of a national army to suppress uprisings, the potential for mob rule, and direct threats to their invested capital through disrupted courthouse proceedings.

Step-by-step explanation:

The wave of fear among wealthy merchants and landowners caused by Shays' Rebellion was due primarily to the following reasons:

1. There was no national army to put down domestic unrest, which caused a fear of the rebellion spreading uncontrollably.
2. The rebellion highlighted the widespread economic distress and potential for mob rule, further threatening the stability needed for their business and property interests.
3. Wealthy creditors were alarmed by direct attacks on courthouses, which were aimed at preventing the foreclosure of farms, potentially resulting in the loss of their invested capital.

These fears highlighted the inadequacy of the Articles of Confederation in dealing with such internal conflicts and added urgency to the call for a stronger federal government, culminating in the Constitutional Convention.