Final answer:
Samuel Adams reacted to Shays' Rebellion with concern for maintaining order and viewed the uprising as a serious threat that needed a strong, centralized response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Samuel Adams' reaction to Shays' Rebellion was informed by his perception that the revolt threatened the stability and order of the state of Massachusetts and the nascent United States. Adams, unlike other contemporary leaders such as Thomas Jefferson who saw some merit in the rebellion as an expression of vigilant defense of liberties, was likely alarmed at the prospect of anarchy. The rebellion, led by Continental Army veteran Daniel Shays, originated from western Massachusetts farmers' demands for debt relief and opposition to high state taxes and economic injustice after fighting in the Revolutionary War. As many leaders were shaken by the rebellion's suggestion of widespread discontent and the potential for mass civil unrest, Adams was a proponent of a strong, centralized response to maintain order.