Unit One Lesson Three

Unit 1 Lesson 3:The Whiskey Rebellion : 

Unit 1 Lesson 3:The Whiskey Rebellion

Washington Commanding the Militia for the Whiskey Rebellion : 

Washington Commanding the Militia for the Whiskey Rebellion

Background : 

Background Alexander Hamilton wanted to raise money for the Treasury. One way to do this was to place a tax on any liquor produced in the United States. He thought that a tax on Whiskey and other liquor products would be a great way to begin paying off the national debt. Hamilton also said that this tax would be more a social measure, than a way to raise revenue.

The Design of the Tax : 

The Design of the Tax Congress set up the tax so that smaller distiller, those who produced the whiskey, would pay tax based by the gallon. Larger distillers could pay a flat fee. This would result in the smaller distillers paying more than the larger distillers. George Washington was one of the large distillers and agreed with the tax.

Those Who Opposed : 

Those Who Opposed Western Farmers, especially in western Pennsylvania, really opposed this tax. They felt that it was unfair and discriminatory. The tax affected those who produced the whiskey, not those who bought the whiskey. Many men from Pennsylvania all the to Georgia harassed federal tax collectors. These men were called “Whiskey Boys.”

The Rebellion : 

The Rebellion By the summer of 1794 unrest was growing. As word of a rebellion spread, men began protesting the government by robbing the mail, assaulting tax collectors, and stopping court proceedings. One group of men assaulted a tax collector while they were disguised as women. They cut his hair, stole his horse, and coated him with tar and feathers.

Governments Reaction : 

Governments Reaction This Washington and Hamilton knew they had to stop the rebellion. They decided that this would be a testing ground for the authority of the new government. On August 7, 1784, Washington invoked martial law and called up 12,950 militia men. In October, the rebels could not be found, but the militia succeeded in rounding up 20 prisoners demonstrating the government had the power and authority to control the county.

The Prisoners : 

The Prisoners They were imprisoned where one died. The men were brought to trial. Two of the men were sentenced to death by hanging. Washington eventually pardoned them saying that one was a “simpleton” and the other was “insane.”

Effects and Conclusion : 

Effects and Conclusion Marked the first time the government used military force to exert authority over the American people. One of only two times in history where a sitting president, George Washington, was in charge of the military on the front lines. The second was during the war of 1812. The hated whiskey tax was repealed in 1803. It was really never enforced and never brought much money in tax revenue.