Question

What precedent did Washington establish by acting decisively to stop the Whiskey Rebellion? How has this shown in other presidencies?

Answer 1

The precedent George Washington set here was that the he would not tolerate aggressive, violent protests against the laws which shall be enforced by the government. When the people rose up against the taxation of whiskey he personally commanded the militia  end ended the Rebellion not by firing but by the imposing presence alone. He showed that the government meant business and if people were against something they need to protest the right way, through political action and peaceful protest.

This precedent of the government enforcing the laws and actively confronting the those who did not want to follow the laws and treated the citizens unfairly showed that the government would interfere but fairly. This was followed by Roosevelt when he fought the big corporate trusts and their monopolies.