Question

In 1794, farmers in western pennsylvania rebelled against a tax the government had placed on whiskey. president george washington sent troops to suppress the rebellion, which collapsed before the federal force arrived. what statement best explains why this event was important?

a. It weakened the government's authority to tax citizens.
b. It showed the government was able to put down threats.
c. It put Pennsylvania under federal control until agreed on the tax.
d. It shifted control over the military from Congress to the president.

Answer 1

The best answer is b. It showed the government was able to put down threats. The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 was an important event in American history because it demonstrated the ability of the new federal government to put down threats to its authority and maintain order. The rebellion began when farmers in western Pennsylvania, angered by a tax on whiskey, banded together and threatened to use force to resist the tax. President Washington, determined to show that the federal government would not tolerate such challenges to its authority, sent a large force of federal troops to suppress the rebellion. The rebels, seeing the size of the federal force, quickly dispersed and the rebellion collapsed before the troops arrived.

This event was important because it showed that the federal government was willing and able to use military force to maintain order and uphold its authority. It also demonstrated the strength of the government's military forces and the effectiveness of its response to challenges to its authority. These factors helped to establish the government's legitimacy and ensured that it would continue to be respected and obeyed by the American people.