Final answer:
The 1794 Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania was triggered by fierce opposition to a federal excise tax on whiskey, imposed by the government, which was seen as unfair to frontier farmers and a symbol of central government oppression. so, option A is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1794 uprising of farmers and distillers in western Pennsylvania, known as the Whiskey Rebellion, was chiefly caused by A. Taxation disputes over whiskey production. These farmers had turned their grain into whiskey, easier to transport and valuable as both a product and a form of currency, especially given the lack of good roads and the distance from major markets. The federal excise tax on distilled spirits, part of Alexander Hamilton's financial program, was seen as discriminatory against frontier farmers and led to violent protests and an assertion of local rights.
The situation escalated when the rebels tarred and feathered tax collectors, a direct challenge to federal authority. This discontent almost led to secession, with rebels negotiating with British and Spanish representatives and contacting other discontented areas like Kentucky and South Carolina. In response to this threat, and the specter of chaos reminiscent of the French Revolution's excesses, President Washington sent a large federal militia force to the region, resulting in D. the sending of a massive army to western Pennsylvania to suppress the rebellion, rather than a. the repeal of the federal liquor tax or b. declining support for the Republicans.