The Whiskey Rebellion was primarily a response to which of the following?

The Whiskey Rebellion was primarily a response to excise taxes on whiskey, which were implemented by the federal government in 1791. This tax was part of Alexander Hamilton's financial program to reduce national debt and stabilize the economy. Many farmers, particularly in Western Pennsylvania, relied on distilling their surplus grain into whiskey for both economic and practical reasons, as it was easier to transport and had a higher value.

The tax was viewed as an unfair burden, especially for smaller farmers who saw it as favoring larger commercial interests. This led to widespread protests and ultimately escalated into a rebellion, where armed resistance was demonstrated against tax collectors and government authority. The federal government's response, including the use of military force to quell the uprising, reinforced the concept of federal power in handling domestic insurrections, setting a significant precedent in U.S. history regarding the authority of the federal government to impose and collect taxes. This conflict highlighted the tensions between rural populations and the federal government in the early years of the United States.