Which political faction supported strong state governments?

• A. Whiskey Rebellion
• B. Federalists
• C. Judiciary Act of 1789
• D. Democratic-Republicans

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is how different political groups view the balance of power between the states and the national government. The Democratic-Republicans argued that most authority should stay with the states, because they believed a strong central government could threaten individual liberties and local control. They favored preserving state sovereignty to protect agricultural and rural interests and to keep government close to the people. That makes them the faction most aligned with strong state governments. By contrast, the Federalists pushed for a stronger national government to unite the country and promote national economic development, which doesn’t emphasize state-level power. The Whiskey Rebellion was a test of federal authority to enforce laws, reflecting the Federalist stance on a capable central government, while the Judiciary Act of 1789 established the federal court system and is about government structure rather than a philosophy on state versus national power.