Final answer:
On the American frontier, whiskey was distilled from grains for easier transport and trade, also serving as a form of currency. The government's 1791 excise tax on spirits precipitated the Whiskey Rebellion. The rebellion highlighted the conflict between federal authority and regional interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whiskey was used on the American frontier not only as a beverage but also for economic purposes. Due to the lack of infrastructure, like adequate roads to transport grain, frontier farmers found it more practical to distill their grains into whiskey, which made transportation and trade easier. Because of its condensed form, it became a form of currency, too. However, when the government imposed an excise tax on distilled spirits in 1791, it led to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 as frontline farmers saw the tax as an unfair burden and a sign of government favoritism towards eastern commercial interests. Discontent with the whiskey tax was widespread, leading to various forms of protest and civil disobedience, including the violent intimidation of federal officials. The rebellion underscored the tension between federal authority and regional interests, as well as the importance of whiskey in the everyday life and economy of American frontier society.