Which event was a violent tax protest that Washington used to demonstrate that the Constitution could enforce laws?

• A. Judiciary Act of 1789
• B. Whiskey Rebellion
• C. Domestic Affairs
• D. Proclamation of Neutrality 1793

Answer: (B)

The main idea is whether the federal government can enforce its laws, including tax laws, when challenged. The Whiskey Rebellion fits precisely: in 1794, farmers in western Pennsylvania rose up against a whiskey tax and turned violent. Washington answered by calling in federal troops to suppress the rebellion, proving that the Constitution allows the national government to levy taxes and use force if necessary to ensure those laws are obeyed. This set a clear precedent that the federal government has the authority to enforce its laws across states, not just through persuasion or state action. The other options don’t reflect a tax-enforcement event: the act that established the federal court system reorganized the judiciary, the Proclamation of Neutrality concerned foreign policy, and Domestic Affairs refers to general matters rather than a specific event.