Final answer:
Most regions of the country responded with hostility to new taxes imposed by the federal government, from the Whiskey Tax to Confederate taxes during the Civil War. The common thread in this resistance was the idea of states' rights and opposition to centralized federal control.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Washington's experiences, many regions of the country reacted negatively to the imposition of new taxes. The federal government encountered significant resistance when collecting the whiskey tax, indicative of a broader hostility to direct taxation by a distant central authority. This was a sentiment that had roots in the American Revolution. Farmers, especially those remote from trade centers, were heavily burdened by the tax on distilled spirits. These spirits were often the only way their grain could be transported to market without spoiling. Additionally, in areas where currency was scarce, whiskey itself became a form of money. The response of people in states to the south of New York was to protest vigorously, resorting to actions such as tarring and feathering tax collectors, petitioning Congress, and attacking individuals who complied with the tax requirements. Furthermore, the Davis administration faced similar opposition to its tax policies, including direct taxes on property and a tariff that failed to generate much revenue due to the blockade affecting international trade during the Civil War. In both instances, the resistance to federal taxation stemmed from a strong support for states' rights and an aversion to the expansion of national government powers.