What are facts about the Whiskey Rebellion?
Whiskey Rebellion Facts and Outcome. The Whiskey Rebellion was a rural uprising in the western counties of Pennsylvania in 1794 in response to a federally imposed excise tax placed on liquor. President George Washington led an army into the field to break up the rebellion: he was the only United States President ever to lead troops into the field.
What was the cause of the Whiskey Rebellion?
Causes and Effects
- The Whiskey Rebellion was triggered by a tax imposed on distilled liquors in 1791.
- which farmers in western Pennsylvania believed was unfair since they made alcohols to sell.
- It resulted in a strengthening of the recently established United States because the federal government demonstrated its ability to keep the union together.
Why did the farmers rebel in the Whiskey Rebellion?
Whisky Rebellion was in 1794 when farmers of western Pennsylvania protested against the whiskey tax. This was an “excessive” tax -an internal tax-passed a few years before to raise additional funds for the national government. They were mad about this because usually there to make grain into whiskey.
What is a summary of the Whiskey Rebellion?
The Whiskey Rebellion was a tax protest launched by farmers of the western frontier in a bid to oppose the new excise tax on whiskey. Though the various events associated with this protest took place over a period of four years between 1790 and 1794, it reached its climax in 1794, and thus, is also referred to as the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794.
What month was the Whiskey Rebellion?
JulyA meeting at Redstone Fort in July of 1791 began the organized resistance to the collection of the excise tax. Many of the westerners refused to pay the tax and those coming to collect the tax were often ambushed or humiliated, some were tarred and feathered.
How did the Whiskey Rebellion start?
It all began in 1791, during Washington's presidency, when Congress legislated an excise tax on whiskey and distilled spirits. The revenue from these taxes was intended to help lessen the federal deficit. In parts of western Pennsylvania and western Virginia, however, the law and its tax inspectors were not met kindly.
How did Whiskey Rebellion end?
Two men, John Mitchell and Philip Weigel, were found guilty of treason, though both were pardoned by President Washington. By 1802, then President Thomas Jefferson repealed the excise tax on whiskey. Under the eye of President Washington, the nascent United States survived the first true challenge to federal authority.
Who led Whiskey Rebellion?
A force of 13,000 militia troops, led by Hamilton and Virginia governor Henry Lee, marched into western Pennsylvania.
Where was the Whiskey Rebellion started?
western PennsylvaniaThe Whiskey Rebellion was a 1794 uprising of farmers and distillers in western Pennsylvania in protest of a whiskey tax enacted by the federal government.
What are 3 facts about Whiskey Rebellion?
Quick Facts About the Whiskey Rebellion President: George Washington was President during the Whiskey Rebellion. Casualties: At least two people died in the Whiskey Rebellion, and possibly more. Slogan: “Liberty and no excise” was a popular rallying cry of the people who opposed the tax on distilled spirits.
Was the Whiskey Rebellion violent?
The Whiskey Rebellion (also known as the Whiskey Insurrection) was a violent tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of George Washington.
Was anyone killed in the Whiskey Rebellion?
It is believed that less than five of the tax protesters were killed and no casualties were attributed to direct fighting on the side of the government's forces. Some 15 or less soldiers and militia members died of natural causes or accidents during the three year conflict, however.
What happened during Whiskey Rebellion?
Whiskey Rebellion, (1794), in American history, uprising that afforded the new U.S. government its first opportunity to establish federal authority by military means within state boundaries, as officials moved into western Pennsylvania to quell an uprising of settlers rebelling against the liquor tax.
How did George Washington put down the Whiskey Rebellion?
President George Washington responded to the rebellion by sending a 12,000 soldiers to Pennsylvania to confront the rebels, who disbanded without a single shot fired. The Whiskey Rebellion marked the first major challenge to federal authority in the young United States.
What was the Whiskey Rebellion and how did Washington handle it?
In response, Washington issued a public proclamation on August 7, giving his former Revolutionary War aide-de-camp and current Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton the power to organize troops to put down the rebellion.
How was the Whiskey Rebellion an opportunity?
How was the Whiskey Rebellion an opportunity for the federal government to demonstrate its authority? The government enforced their rule. They didn't want another rebellion like Shay's Rebellion, so to show their authority they gave into demands and compromised so they wouldn't look weak as a country.
Why did farmers in Pennsylvania convert their corn to whiskey?
During the Whiskey Rebellion (1794) farmers in Pennsylvania converted their corn to whiskey because they had no other way of transporting their bulky corn crops to market. Construction of the Erie Canal from Albany to Buffalo, in New York, opened up the Great Lakes. Settlers went west,…
What happened to the tax inspectors in 1794?
Enforcement legislation touched off what appeared to be an organized rebellion, and in July of 1794 about 500 armed men attacked and burned the home of the regional tax inspector after a smaller group had been fended off the previous day. The following month Pres. George Washingtonissued a congressionally authorized proclamation ordering the rebels to return home and calling for militia from Pennsylvania and three neighbouring states (New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia). After fruitless negotiations with the 15-member committee representing the rebels (which included Anti-Federalist Pennsylvania legislator and later U.S. Secretary of the TreasuryAlbert Gallatin), Washington ordered some 13,000 troops into the area, but the opposition melted away and no battle ensued. Troops occupied the region and some of the rebels were tried, but the two convicted of treasonwere later pardoned by the president.
What happened in the 1860s?
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. …uprising in 1794 called the Whiskey Rebellion. As a result, tax laws changed repeatedly between the Whis key Rebellion and the Civil War in the 1860s, when new laws authorized the government to pay detectives to help identify, capture, and punish tax evaders.
Who ordered the rebels to return home?
The following month Pres. George Washington issued a congressionally authorized proclamation ordering the rebels to return home and calling for militia from Pennsylvania and three neighbouring states ( New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia ).
When did the tax inspector's home burn?
Enforcement legislation touched off what appeared to be an organized rebellion, and in July of 1794 about 500 armed men attacked and burned the home of the regional tax inspector after a smaller group had been fended off the previous day.
What was the whiskey rebellion?
The Whiskey Rebellion was a political crisis in the early years of the United States , which was triggered when a tax on alcoholic spirits sparked a backlash among settlers on the western frontier of Pennsylvania.
When was the tax on whiskey repealed?
The hated tax on whiskey was repealed in the early 1800s. Though the Whiskey Rebellion had represented a very serious challenge to federal power, and it was remarkable as it marked the last time George Washington would lead troops, it had no real lasting effect.
Why was whiskey used as currency in the 1790s?
Fast Facts: The Whiskey Rebellion. Tax on distilled spirits caused enormous controversy in the early 1790s, especially along the western frontier of Pennsylvania. Farmers often used whiskey as currency in a barter economy, partly because it was easier to transport than raw grain.
Why was whiskey taxed in the 1790s?
In the early 1790s, the new tax on whiskey was viewed by the western settlers as an unfair tax designed to aid the financial class living in the cities of the East.
Why was it easier to turn grain into whiskey?
Because roads at the time were so poor, transporting grain could be difficult, so it was easier to turn the grain into whiskey and then transport it.
When did the whiskey tax become law?
Following the whiskey tax becoming law in March 1791, officials were appointed to enforce the law and collect the tax. The new tax collectors were provided with a manual, written by Hamilton, giving precise instructions on calculating the tax and keeping records.
How many people turned out for a meeting in 1794?
Two weeks later, on August 1, 1794, about 7,000 local residents turned out for a mass meeting in Pittsburgh. The crowd expressed grievances, but what could have turned into a violent riot was calmed. The people at the meeting, mostly poor local farmers, peacefully returned to their own farms.
Summary of the Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a revolt in Western Pennsylvania that started in 1791 and became an armed insurrection in 1794. The rebels were upset over a tax Congress placed on whiskey, which was the first tax levied by the Federal Government under the United States Constitution.
Quick Facts About the Whiskey Rebellion
Also Know As: The Whiskey Rebellion is also called The Whiskey Insurrection.
Significance of the Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 was important because the successful suppression of the rebels confirmed the supremacy of Federal law in the early days of the United States under the Constitution. It also affirmed the right of Congress to levy and collect taxes on a nationwide basis.
Whiskey Rebellion for AP US History (APUSH)
This section provides resources for students who are studying and preparing for the A.P. U.S. History Exam.
Whiskey Rebellion Flag of Protest
The Whiskey Boys who rose up against the excise tax used several flags. The flag below is an illustration of the most recognizable flag believed to have been used by the rebels during the Whiskey Rebellion.
What Was the Whiskey Rebellion?
The Whiskey Rebellion was an armed insurrection against a tax imposed by the federal government on distilled spirits, which , in 18th century America, basically meant whiskey. It took place in Western Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, between 1791 and 1794.
Where did the Whiskey Rebellion take place?
It took place in Western Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, between 1791 and 1794. More precisely, The Whiskey Rebellion developed after the First United States Congress, seated at Congress Hall at Sixth and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia, passed an excise tax on domestic whiskey on March 3, 1791. This legislation, pushed through Congress by ...
Why was the Whiskey Tax controversial?
It was as controversial as it was because it was the first time the newly-formed US government imposed a tax on a domestic good.
Why did the Western Pennsylvania movement against the tax?
In Western Pennsylvania, the movement against the tax was the most organized, but, perhaps because of the territory’s proximity to Philadelphia and abundant farmland, it was confronted by an increasing number of wealthy, Eastern Federalists — who had moved west for the cheap land and resources — who wanted to see the excise tax imposed.
How many defendants were indicted in the Whiskey Rebellion?
Earlier, In May of 1795 the Circuit Court for the Federal District of Pennsylvania indicted thirty-five defendants for an assortment of crimes associated with the Whiskey Rebellion.
How did the West influence the formation of cities?
It allowed people on the frontier to obtain political representation , and as formal parts of the United States, they received protection from the nearby, often hostile, Native American tribes.
What happens if the Rebels plan fails?
If this plan fails, they will no longer only threaten violence. They will unleash it.
What was the whiskey rebellion?
The Whiskey Rebellion. Just years after the successful American Revolution and the creation of the United States of America, rebellion occurred. This insurrection proved to be the first of many tests that the infant nation had to deal with. However the government decided to react to this crisis, precedents were to be set for future leaders ...
When was the whiskey tax passed?
Many Federalists believed that this new tax acted more of a “luxury tax” and did not have the ability to anger many citizens and advocated its passing in Congress where it was eventually passed as the 1791 Excise Whiskey Tax.
Why did the Pennsylvania distillery protest the tax?
Thus, protests began in western Pennsylvania against the perceived elitist tax as the stills in the frontier had to work harder to produce and transport their grain products for sale . The issue of transportation was virtually non-existent for larger whiskey distilling operations in urban eastern centers. Additionally, the tax on whiskey was regressive, meaning that the more a distiller produced, the less they had to pay in taxes. The regressive nature of the tax disproportionally hurt the small distilleries owned by families on the frontier. Additionally, the tax was to be collected in cash, which many simply did not have on the frontier. This tax was poised to upset the entire market of bartering and trading that was established on the western frontier. To protest the tax, those on the frontiersmen simply refused to register their stills with the government. In order to combat the operation of unregistered stills, the federal government relied on local tax collectors and other locals to help locate the small stills on the frontier. As a result, many grain farmers and whiskey distillers lashed out at local “collaborators” and tax collectors, resorting to the tactics of the American Revolution. Tax collectors were being threatened and even tarred and feathered, all while public demonstrations began increasingly violent, local militias were being formed for the purpose of fighting this tax.
How many rebels were there in 1794?
The insurrection wanted revenge for McFarlane’s “murder” as they believed it to be. By August 1 st of 1794, around 7,000 rebels were gathered at Braddock’s Field, only 8 miles away from Pittsburgh, and were beginning to make plans to attack the city.
What happened in October 1794?
By October of 1794, the federal army was closing the distance with Pittsburgh, resulting in the collapse of the rebellion, as many began to flee for safety from the massive federal force. The leaders of the insurrection fled into the frontier while the federal army began arresting suspected members of the rebellion.
How many people were indicted for the Rebellion?
When the dust had settled, approximately 20 people were indicted for their roles in the rebellion. Only ten people stood trial, however, and only two were convicted of treason. Much to the dismay of Alexander Hamilton, who wanted to see more punitive measures taken against rebels to the United States.
How many soldiers did Washington have to fight the Rebellion?
With the help of Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee and Daniel Morgan, President Washington now was in command of 12,950 federal soldiers to crush the rebellion on the frontier. As the army marched towards western Pennsylvania, to meet the rebels, Washington personally rode to review his soldiers in September of 1794.
Overview
It all started with a tax. What came to be known as the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, or the Western Insurrection, took place over a period of time beginning in 1791 by most accounts.
Internet Resources
There are many websites available for the Whiskey Rebellion. Using your favorite search engine, type whiskey rebellion as the search term and explore the many different websites. The sites below are just a sampling of what is available:
Overview
The Whiskey Rebellion (also known as the Whiskey Insurrection) was a violent tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of George Washington. The so-called "whiskey tax" was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government. Beer was difficult to transport and spoiled more easily than rum and whiskey. Rum …
Whiskey tax
A new U.S. federal government began operating in 1789, following the ratification of the United States Constitution. The previous central government under the Articles of Confederation had been unable to levy taxes; it had borrowed money to meet expenses and fund the Revolutionary War, accumulating $54 million in debt. The state governments had amassed an add…
Western grievances
The population of Western Pennsylvania was 17,000 in 1790. Among the farmers in the region, the whiskey excise was immediately controversial, with many people on the frontier arguing that it unfairly targeted westerners Whiskey was a popular drink, and farmers often supplemented their incomes by operating small stills. Farmers living west of the Appalachian Mountains distilled their excess grain into whiskey, which was easier and more profitable to transport over the mountain…
Resistance
Many residents of the western frontier petitioned against passage of the whiskey excise. When that failed, some western Pennsylvanians organized extralegal conventions to advocate repeal of the law. Opposition to the tax was particularly prevalent in four southwestern counties: Allegheny, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland. A preliminary meeting held on July 27, 1791, at Redstone …
Insurrection
The resistance came to a climax in 1794. In May of that year, federal district attorney William Rawle issued subpoenas for more than 60 distillers in Pennsylvania who had not paid the excise tax. Under the law then in effect, distillers who received these writs would be obligated to travel to Philadelphia to appear in federal court. For farmers on the western frontier, such a journey wa…
Legacy
The Washington administration's suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion met with widespread popular approval. The episode demonstrated that the new national government had the willingness and ability to suppress violent resistance to its laws. It was, therefore, viewed by the Washington administration as a success, a view that has generally been endorsed by historians. The Washington administ…
See also
• American Whiskey Trail
• Fort Gaddis – gathering spot in Fayette County, Pennsylvania during Rebellion and site of the raising of a liberty pole
• Fries's Rebellion
• Jean Bonnet Tavern
Notes
1. ^ Slaughter 1986, pp. 210–14, 219.
2. ^ Robert W. Coakley, The Role of Federal Military Forces in Domestic Disorders, 1789–1878 (DIANE Publishing, 1996), 67.
3. ^ Risen, Clay (December 6, 2013). "How America Learned to Love Whiskey". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
Summary of The Whiskey Rebellion
Quick Facts About The Whiskey Rebellion
- Also Know As:The Whiskey Rebellion is also called The Whiskey Insurrection.
- Date Started:It started on July 15, 1794, when warning shots were fired at a Federal Marshal on a farm near Pittsburgh.
- Date Ended:The Whiskey Rebellion ended in October 1794 when rebel forces dispersed.
- President:George Washington was President during the Whiskey Rebellion.
Important People Involved in The Whiskey Rebellion
- President George Washington
- Secretary of State Alexander Hamilton
- General Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee
- John Neville, Tax Collector
Whiskey Rebellion History, Details, and Impact
- Compromise of 1790 — The Federal Government Assumes War Debt
In 1790, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison brokered a compromise that: 1. Allowed the Federal Government to assume outstanding debts that any states still had from the American Revolutionary War, which was what Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, … - The 1791 Excise Whiskey Tax —Alexander Hamilton Urges Congress to Levy Taxes to Pay Dow…
In 1791, Hamiltonrecommended that Congress used its new constitutional authority to “lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises” in order to pay down its debt. This debt included the debt that had been assumed in 1790. Some critics of Hamilton believe he wanted the governme…
Significance of The Whiskey Rebellion
- The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 was important because the successful suppression of the rebels confirmed the supremacy of Federal law in the early days of the United States under the Constitution. It also affirmed the right of Congress to levy and collect taxes on a nationwide basis. The Whiskey Rebellion also contributed to a growing divide between the Federalist Party and th…
Whiskey Rebellion For AP Us History
- This section provides resources for students who are studying and preparing for the A.P. U.S. History Exam.
Whiskey Rebellion Timeline
- March 1791
Congress passed a law that levied a tax on distilled spirits. It was important because it was the first time the Federal Government had taxed a product produced in the United States. - July 1791
Opponents of the excise tax met for the first time at Fort Redstone in Brownsville, Pennsylvania.
Whiskey Rebellion Flag of Protest
- The Whiskey Boys who rose up against the excise tax used several flags. The flag below is an illustration of the most recognizable flag believed to have been used by the rebels during the Whiskey Rebellion. Replicas of this flag are available. Please note that AHC may make a small commission from purchases you make from links.