What did the Whiskey Rebellion challenged the idea of?

The Whiskey Rebellion challenged the idea of federal authority and the legitimacy of the government’s ability to levy taxes. It arose in the 1790s when farmers in western Pennsylvania resisted a federal excise tax on whiskey, viewing it as unfair and burdensome. The rebellion tested the strength of the new federal government under the Constitution, ultimately leading to a demonstration of federal power when President George Washington mobilized troops to quell the insurrection. This event underscored the tensions between local interests and federal governance in the early United States.