Final answer:
The Whiskey Rebels equated the whiskey tax to British oppression by using symbols and methods of protest similar to those used during the American Revolution, such as tarring and feathering tax collectors and discussing plans for secession.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Whiskey Rebels used various symbols to equate the whiskey tax with the oppression of the British a quarter century earlier. They saw the tax as an infringement on their liberties similar to the grievances of the American Revolution. These rebels expressed their discontent through actions reminiscent of the pre-Revolutionary period, such as tarring and feathering tax collectors, which was a form of protest notably used by the Sons of Liberty. By adopting violent and coercive methods, and discussing plans to form an independent commonwealth or secede from the United States, the Whiskey Rebels echoed the revolutionary sentiment and resistance to perceived despotism seen prior to American independence. Moreover, they also circulated the idea of secession, harkening back to the colonies' ultimate break from British rule. Tax resistance thus became a symbol linking their cause with that of the Revolution.