Final answer:
The exact percentage of Pennsylvania farmers who owned whiskey stills during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 is not specified, but the historical context indicates that many farmers in the western counties produced whiskey due to practical and economic reasons challenging cumbersome grain transport.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed is related to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, a significant event in American history that does not have a clear statistic regarding the percentage of Pennsylvania farmers who owned whiskey stills. The rebellion was a result of discontent among farmers in the western counties of Pennsylvania who turned their grains into whiskey due to economic reasons, such as the difficulty in transporting bulk grains and the use of whiskey as a form of currency in underdeveloped areas.
Trouble erupted when Congress authorized a tax on whiskey as part of Alexander Hamilton's financial program to help stabilize the economy and alleviate the national debt. The farmers saw this tax as a burden and an indication that the new national government favored the eastern commercial classes over western farmers. Federal officials struggled to enforce the tax, which led to violent protests and the consideration of secession by the disgruntled farmers.
The Whiskey Rebellion showcased how farmers relied on whiskey production not just for financial reasons, but also how alcohol had become an integral part of the American lifestyle, as indicated by the high consumption rates in the 1830s. It also highlighted the conflict between local interests and a centralized national government’s policies.