Whiskey Rebellion
Last updated
In 1791, the first federal excise on a domestic product—a tax on distilled spirits—sparked an uprising known as the Whiskey Rebellion.[1] President Washington commanded a federalized militia of nearly 13,000 men to put down the insurrection in late 1794.[1]
Life and work
The new U.S. federal government began operating in 1789 after the Constitution was ratified.[2] Small-scale frontier distillers paid a higher tax per gallon than large eastern distillers, making them less competitive.[3] The federalized militia entered western Pennsylvania in late October 1794 and arrested many rebels, though most were released for lack of evidence.[1] Federal revenue officers were tarred, feathered, or threatened by tax rebels.[1]
What the cited sources add
Hogeland also states that the whiskey rebels published cogent resolutions opposing the tax's tendency to concentrate wealth.[4] The sole federal courthouse was in Philadelphia, roughly 300 miles from Pittsburgh, requiring accused tax evaders to travel a great distance.[1]
References
- Hoover, "The Whiskey Rebellion", Regulations & Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, US Department of the Treasury. facts only, no text reused. ttb.gov
- Wikipedia, "Whiskey Rebellion" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Chernow 2004, p. 297 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Whiskey Rebellion" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Hogeland, "Why the Whiskey Rebellion Is Worth Recalling Now", History News Network, July 3, 2006. facts only, no text reused. hnn.us
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Whiskey Rebellion (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Rebellions against the United States
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Whiskey Rebellion (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced