Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What was the main cause of the Whiskey Rebellion?

1. Opposition to a federal alcohol prohibition

2. Farmers protesting a federal tax on whiskey

3. Conflict with Native American tribes over land

4. Disagreement over taxation without representation

The correct answer is: Farmers protesting a federal tax on whiskey

The Whiskey Rebellion was primarily fueled by farmers protesting a federal tax on whiskey. In 1791, the federal government enacted an excise tax on distilled spirits, which heavily impacted small-scale farmers, particularly in western Pennsylvania. Many of these farmers produced whiskey from surplus grain, and the tax was seen as an unfair burden that targeted their livelihoods. The rebellion highlighted the tensions between rural farmers, who relied on whiskey both as a commodity and as a form of currency, and the federal government, which sought to assert its authority and raise revenue to pay off war debts. The farmers viewed the tax as an overreach by the federal government, similar to the grievances that had led to the American Revolution, prompting them to rise against federal enforcement measures. This popular uprising ultimately tested the new nation’s capacity to maintain order and function as a federal system, demonstrating the challenges of governance and taxation in a diverse and rapidly changing society.