When President Washington suppressed (put an end to) a rebellion of farmers in Western Pennsylvania for refusing to pay the whiskey tax, he---
A. created the framework for a future personal income tax
B. demonstrated his opposition to Alexander Hamilton's financial plan
C. acted to strengthen the authority of the new federal government
D. showed his determination to build a large standing army
To answer this question, let's break down the options and see which one aligns with President Washington's actions in suppressing the rebellion of farmers in Western Pennsylvania:
Option A suggests that President Washington's action was in support of creating a framework for a future personal income tax. However, the rebellion was actually centered around the tax on whiskey, not personal income tax. Therefore, option A is not the correct answer.
Option B proposes that President Washington was demonstrating his opposition to Alexander Hamilton's financial plan. While it is true that Hamilton's plan included the whiskey tax, President Washington's response to the rebellion was not specifically a critique of Hamilton's plan. Thus, option B does not accurately describe President Washington's actions.
Option C claims that President Washington acted to strengthen the authority of the new federal government. This option suggests that President Washington's suppression of the rebellion was an effort to show that the federal government had the power to enforce its laws. This aligns with the historical context of the rebellion as a challenge to federal authority. Therefore, option C is a plausible answer.
Option D states that President Washington showed his determination to build a large standing army. While President Washington did utilize a military force to suppress the rebellion, his primary motivation was to enforce federal law and maintain order rather than to build a standing army. Consequently, option D is not an accurate reflection of President Washington's actions.
Overall, based on the historical context, option C, which suggests that President Washington acted to strengthen the authority of the new federal government, is the most appropriate answer to the question.