Final answer:
Congress confirmed fears that the whiskey tax might extend to other products by imposing the Whiskey Tax and dealing with the subsequent Whiskey Rebellion with a significant display of federal force, illustrating the potential for future expansions of federal taxation authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about the actions of Congress that led to fears of the whiskey tax extending to other products. These concerns were confirmed when Congress enacted the whiskey excise tax, and the manner in which it did so suggested the possibility of further taxation on additional goods. The Whiskey Tax, part of Alexander Hamilton's financial plan, was approved by a Federalist-dominated Congress in 1791. It put a direct tax on distilled spirits, which was especially burdensome to frontier farmers who used whiskey as a form of currency and for trade due to the difficulties of transporting grain. This tax led to widespread discontent and violent protests known as the Whiskey Rebellion.
Despite the federal government lowering the tax, when it tried to enforce the law by subpoenaing intractable distillers, the situation worsened, leading President Washington to respond with a sizable militia to quell the rebellion. This response by the government confirmed the fears that the government would utilize its power to enforce tax collection, and thus could potentially extend to other products. Moreover, the escalation against the whiskey tax set a precedent for federal authority over state affairs.
Additionally, later events like the Tariff of 1816, which imposed a 20 to 25 percent tariff on most goods and textiles, would further solidify the concerns about expanding federal taxation.