Final answer:
To quell various rebellions, Congress passed confiscation acts defining punishments for treason and insurrection, retaliated against British naval aggression, and enacted legislation like suspending habeas corpus. In response to Shays' Rebellion, Massachusetts passed laws to punish rebels, and during the Whiskey Rebellion, President Washington forcefully demonstrated federal authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
In an effort to quell rebellion, Congress took significant actions that impacted civil liberties. During regular session, Congress passed two confiscation acts, with the first defining and specifying punishments for treason and the second introducing a less severe punishment for insurrection. This second act included the liberation of slaves as a part of the rebels' punishment. The acts mandated the seizure of all property held by officers of the Confederate government and those supporting the rebellion after a sixty-day warning.
Furthermore, when the British Royal Navy threatened American vessels through the Prohibitory Act, Congress retaliated by allowing the confiscation of British ships and their merchandise as a 'lawful prize.' This move was in direct response to British actions, including inciting attacks on Americans and the confiscation of American ships.
The suspension of habeas corpus by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War allowed for the arrest and punishment of those deemed rebels or insurrectionists, as well as those discouraging volunteer enlistments or engaging in disloyal practices. Congress subsequently abolished slavery in the District of Columbia, illustrating a broader push toward mobilizing for war and strengthening federal authority over the states.
At an earlier time, during Shays' Rebellion, the Massachusetts legislature took decisive action including legislation designed to punish the rebels with ramifications like loss of property, with the potential for execution for militiamen refusing to serve. The inability of the Confederation Congress to handle such uprisings demonstrated the need for a stronger central government, a view echoed by key figures like George Washington and Alexander Hamilton.
Finally, when faced with the Whiskey Rebellion, President George Washington took a strong stance to guarantee the supremacy of federal laws, leading an expedition against the insurgents, which proved the resolve of the national government and ultimately resulted in the collapse of the resistance.