The federal response to the whiskey rebellion was widely believed to be a critical test of federal authority, one that washingtons fledgling government. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In october of 1794, in response to a popular uprising against the federal government, president washington sent an army of nearly,000 men across the allegheny mountains into the frontier regions of western. Washington ordered the states military to put down the rebellion. Whiskey rebellion, 1794, in american history, uprising that afforded the new u. The whiskey rebellion took place throughout the western frontier. A whiskey tax imposed by congress in 1791 was the reason for the whiskey rebellion.
The whiskey rebellion demonstrated that the new national government had the will and ability to suppress violent resistance to its laws, though the whiskey excise remained difficult to collect. Washingtons strong response to the whiskey rebellion showed that the federal government was in charge, could and would enforce the laws passed by congress, including the unpopular whiskey tax. The city of pittsburg officials sent a barrel of whiskey to appease the angry mob. The whiskey rebellion was the first serious test for the government of the united states that showed its ability to solve internal problems. Oct 31, 2019 shays rebellion was a series of violent attacks on courthouses and other government properties in massachusetts that began in 1786 and led to a fullblown military confrontation in 1787. In 1791, on the frontier of western pennsylvania, local gangs of insurgents with blackened faces began to attack federal officials, beating and. Why was the whiskey rebellion so important to the new u. Most importantly, the governments act on the rebellion showed the willingness and power of the new federal government to suppress violence and resistance to laws of the united states. The people started to rebel against paying taxes and thus caused the whiskey rebellion. The episode included some other important firstsand even though few shots were ultimately fired, it highlights. Thus, the second amendment was written and signed into law in the. In your answer, discuss the foundations and precedents of the conflict as well as the significance of the governments response. First executive branch department of war symbol department of. Also explain whether you think the government acted appropriately.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading whiskey rebellion. Nov 24, 2011 the whiskey rebellion was the first significant opposition to the federalist government. Washington and the government had enough of the rebellion and started to fight back. It issued paper money to pay the government s bills and made loans to farmers and businesses. Shays rebellion was an issue that the western parts lacked hard currency and traded with goods. George washington, always aware that as the new nations first president, his every action would be drawn. Patke history 1 n0vember, 10 2016 the whiskey rebellion of 1794 the whiskey rebellion of 1794 brings about the death of the elite federalist government in favor of the democratic republican government, concerned with the needs of all of its citizens. An addison holmes mystery addison holmes mysteries book 1. Friendship hill was the home of albert gallatin, who represented fayette county to the state assembly created in pennsylvania during the whiskey rebellion. On september 25, 1794, president george washington proclaimed that that he was sending state militia forces to subdue what was dubbed the whiskey rebellion. First major test on how washington would respond to protesting. The rebellion and the governments response thus exacerbated rather than cured the political conflict that rent america in the 1790s. The government had to somehow pay off the debt that the revolution war created. The whiskey rebellion book by william hogeland official.
Even after the rebellion, however, many farmers still refused to pay the tax on whiskey, a fact that the federal government did not want to admit. Although the power of the national government increased during the early republic, this development often faced serious opposition. The whiskey excise is not generally considered a high point in alexander hamiltons legacy. The whiskey rebellion of 1794 the whiskey rebellion represented the first serious challenge to the authority of the newly formed central government and thus demanded a decisive response. Washington and the whiskey rebellion bill of rights institute. There was not one state south of new york whose western counties did not protest the new excise with some sort of violence. The eastern part was runowned by merchantslawyers who con. Only this time washington was not striking out against the british but rather against fellow americans. 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. Washington and the whiskey rebellion summary many of the founders, including george washington, believed that one weakness of the articles of confederation was that the federal government could not deal firmly with domestic uprisings such as shays rebellion.
How did the federal government respond to shays rebellion. The whiskey rebellion, or whiskey insurrection, was a tax protest in the united states beginning in 1791, during the presidency of george washington. 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. Washington and the whiskey rebellion bill of rights. The state did not listen to him so washington sent federal troops to put it down. The settlers, mainly scotchirish, for whom whiskey was an important economic commodity, resented the tax as discriminatory and detrimental to. The following week, washington became the first and only sitting president to command forces in the field. In response to the whiskey rebellion, he supported the use of federal force to quell the insurrection and to limit bloodshed. Alexander hamilton, secretary of the treasury, had proposed the excise enacted by congress.
Government reacted quickly which proved that the federal government will not be controlled. Dec 15, 2014 with the idea of a whiskey tax in place the citizens of western pennsylvania did not want this to take effect. They were owed a large sum of money from the government and were never compensated for it. On august 1, 1794, president george washington was once again leading troops. Farmers who used their leftover grain and corn in the form of whiskey as a medium of exchange were forced to pay a new tax. The rapid putdown of the rebellion gained the presidency new respect and made similar rebellion more unlikely. The episode included some other important firstsand even though few shots were ultimately fired, it highlights some. A gripping and sensational tale of violence, alcohol, and taxes, the whiskey rebellion uncovers the radical eighteenthcentury peoples movement, long ignored by historians, that contributed decisively to the establishment of federal authority. The whiskey rebellion goodreads meet your next favorite book. Interactive student notebook political developments. Whiskey rebellion background running a new form of government meant the decisions that washington and his cabinet discussed and enacted defined the federal system and created precedents for future administrations. Explain in your own words what washington in his farewell address meant by the threat of the spirit of party. The whiskey rebellion of 1794 essay 1556 words 7 pages.
Washington, in response to the rebellion, ordered,000 troops into the areas where the militia was emerging, quelling the violent opposition against the tax. Then after years of conflict between the distillers and farmers, and the whiskey tax collectors federal government, the president opted to send military troops, and continued using them until he saw proof that the rebellion submitted permanently to the authority of the federal government. The socalled whiskey tax was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government. Hamilton accompanied george washington and general henry lee as they led federal troops to western pennsylvania. The whiskey rebellion trail is a tour of america and a. It was called the whiskey rebellion and, again, was a revolt against taxes. Create a simple illustration showing the governments. The federal government, rather than state leaders, played the central role in suppressing the whiskey rebellion.
Create a simple illustration showing the governments response to the whiskey rebellion. This basically formed the idea that the government can put down internal rebellions using force if necessary. How did the government respond to the whiskey rebellion. Most importantly, the government s act on the rebellion showed the willingness and power of the new federal government to suppress violence and resistance to laws of the united states. How is shays rebellion different from the whiskey rebellion. However, the imposition of a tax on whiskey remained a challenge. The whiskey rebellion also known as the whiskey insurrection was a tax protest in the united states beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of george washington, ultimately under the command of american revolutionary war veteran major james mcfarlane. Describe the whiskey rebellion and the governments actions. When president george washington ordered an army of,000 men to march west in 1794 to crush a tax rebellion among frontier farmers, he established a range of precedents that continues to define federal authority over localities today. Interactive student notebook political developments in the. When resistance came to a climax in 1794, the federal government finally decided to take action against the rebellious western farmers. The events contributed to the formation of political parties in the united states, a process already under way.
The whiskey rebellion, the virginia and kentucky resolutions, or the hartford convention. The whiskey rebellion showed that the new national government had enough determination and capacity to suppress the armed resistance. Whiskey rebellion, 1794, uprising in the pennsylvania counties w of the alleghenies, caused by alexander hamiltons excise tax of 1791. This chapter raises the question of whether the rebellion was justified and whether the government was correct in putting the rebellion down instead of repealing the tax. Thus, the second amendment was written and signed into law in the shadow of these two major citizens rebellions. The whiskey rebellion after the revolutionary war, government tried to procure a steady source of revenue through taxing whiskey. Essay the whiskey rebellion after the revolutionary war. The whiskey rebellion marked the first largescale resistance to a law of the u. Daniel shay started the whiskey rebellion in which he stirred up farmers and peasents against the government because of the tax on whiskey. How did the government respond to the whiskey rebellion answers. Economic hardship, rather than religion, was the primary issue that motivated the whiskey rebellion. In response, the government faced a smallscale revolution by some of its own citizens.
Whiskey rebellion wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Government response to the resistance when resistance came to a climax in 1794, the federal government finally decided to take action against the rebellious western farmers. This classic when president george washington ordered an army of,000 men to march west in 1794 to crush a tax rebellion among frontier farmers, he established a range of precedents that continues to define federal authority. The booklet tells the story of several military campaigns against indians in the northwest territory, the armys role in suppressing the whiskey rebellion 1794, the quasiwar with france and confrontations with spain, the influence of jeffersonian politics on the. Secretary of the treasure, andrew hamilton, need a way to tackle the unpaid revolutionary war debt. The whiskey rebellion was a response to the excise tax proposed by alexander hamilton, who was washingtons secretary of the treasury in 1791. Oct 03, 2019 shays rebellion was an issue that the western parts lacked hard currency and traded with goods.
Feb 06, 2017 it was called the whiskey rebellion and, again, was a revolt against taxes. This all started in 1791 after the american revolution. When the united states adopted the constitution in 1788, the federal government and the state governments still owed debts from the american revolution 177583. Nov 23, 2015 farmers in western pennsylvania rebelled against the tax and refused to pay it. The booklet tells the story of several military campaigns against indians in the northwest territory, the armys role in suppressing the whiskey rebellion 1794, the quasiwar with france and confrontations with spain, the influence of jeffersonian politics on the armys structure, and the lewis and clark expedition. He convinced washington to raise an army of,500 soldiers to suppress the rebellion. The federal response to the whiskey rebellion was widely believed to be a critical test of federal authority, one that washingtons fledgling government met with success. Compare the motives and effectiveness of those opposed to the growing power of the national government during two of the following. The tax was a part of treasury secretary alexander hamiltons program to increase central government power, in particular. The whiskey rebellion, if covered at all in the early history of the united states, is generally described as a revolt carried out by western pennsylvania settlers in response to the. The whiskey rebellion friendship hill national historic.
Probably the biggest concern about the excise tax was the revenues from it would support a national government the western people felt was not representing. List of books and articles about whiskey rebellion. The rebellion in 1786 and 1787 was stopped by massachusetts militia and troops assembled by massachusetts governor james bowdoin, led by general benjamin lincoln. List of books and articles about whiskey rebellion online. An addison holmes mystery addison holmes mysteries book 1 kindle edition by hart, liliana. The most awarded craft distillery in the country, the familyowned wigle is named after philip wigle, one of the original whiskey rebellion protestors to his credit, he punched a tax collector and inspired a wave of antitax protests the distillery churns out dozens of excellent graintobottle ryes and american whiskies. Focusing on the battle between government and the earlyamerican evangelical movement that advocated western secession, the whiskey rebellion is an intense and insightful examination of the roots of federal power and the most fundamental conflicts that ignitedand continue to smolderin the united states. The settlers, mainly scotchirish, for whom whiskey was an important economic commodity, resented the tax as discriminatory and detrimental to their liberty and economic welfare. It issued paper money to pay the governments bills and made loans to farmers and businesses. The most awarded craft distillery in the country, the familyowned wigle is named after philip wigle, one of the original whiskey rebellion protestors to his credit, he punched a tax collector and inspired a wave of antitax protests. Government reacted quickly which proved that the federal government will not be controlled by protests and that they will use force to take down arms. In response, hamilton called for a show of strength.
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