Whiskey Rebellion1794
Cause
The U.S. had a 25 million dollar debt from borrowing money.
In 1789, Alexander Hamilton passed a on tax whiskey.
It passed a tax on the very popular alcohol drink, whiskey.
Also known as the Whiskey Act, came into law in 1791.
EffectMost farmers were not happy with the tax.Farmers in the Western Frontier especially didn’t like
it.They felt like the tax “targeted” them.The farmers that owned smaller farm owners also
felt this way.They felt that the larger farm owners didn’t have to
pay nearly was much as they did.Overall, no one was pleased with this tax.
MeetingsThe U.S. government was getting scared by the
thought of a rebellion happening.They held a meeting to help this cause.They appealed to the farmers that they would
have a non-violent resistance. Their appeals didn’t work.
ResistanceIn 1791, some rebel farmers decided they were
done with the tax.On September 11th of 1791, a recently appointed
tax collector was tarred and feathered by a disguised group of farmers.
An official was sent to help him, but he also got tarred and feathered.
The official was also whipped many times.
The Battle at Bower HillOn July 16th, the rebels surrounded General
Neville’s house.General Neville was a Revolutionary War veteran,
but had recently been appointed as a tax collector.He lived on Bower Hill in a huge house.The rebels surrounded is house and asked for his
surrender.He responded by firing a shot that mortally
wounded Oliver Miller, who was a rebel.
Battle at Bower HillThe rebels open fired on Neville’s house, but they
were unable to hit Neville.The next day, they returned to his house with a
force of 600 men.It was led by James Mcfarlane, a Revolutionary
War veteran.Neville was also set some men from the
governments army.
Battle at Bower HillBoth sides were firing back and forth, when
Neville’s side held up a white flag.McFarlane was coming over to negotiate, when a
shot went off, killing McFarlane.The rebels started firing until Neville’s force
retreated.
March on PittsburghOn August 1st, a gathering of 7,000 rebels met at
Bradock’s Field.The rebels discussed what they were going to do
about the tax.Some of the rebels wanted to march across
Pittsburgh with the flag they had created.
Government’s ActionsThe U.S. government knew this had to be stopped.U.S. delegates had many conferences, but finally
decided to send commissioners to meet with the rebels and to raise up a militia army.
On August 7th, George Washington announced that the rebellion was going to be stopped by the militia.
Government’s ActionsWashington’s militia consisted of 12,950 menThe militia marched through the States arresting
all the rebels. The rebellion was slowly falling apart.The rebellion collapsed as the militia army
marched into Pennsylvania.
LegacyWhen the government stopped the rebellion, it
showed the people of the U.S. that the constitution was a success.
That the government was able to suppress a rebellion that had swelled to an enormous size.
The people of the U.S. now trusted the government a lot more.