The Whiskey Rebellion

The Whiskey Rebellion

The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 represented a serious threat to the authority of the newly formed government and the administof George Washington. This movement involved farmers reacting to the perceived indifference of a government many miles from their fields. The Rebellion also involved thousands of Pennsylvania farmers being taxed on rye liquor, their chief export. An army of militia from surrounding states were sent into Pennsylvania to suppress the uprising. Several of the rebellion’s leaders were taken east for trial and two were found guilty of treason. The Whiskey Rebellion was the first test of federal power and authority.

Anger over federal taxation began when Congress passed an act on July 1, 1791, to establish an excise on whiskey. In March 1791, Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton’s, convinced Congress and President, Georger Washington, that the purpose of taxing whiskey was needed to pay off national and state debts incurred by the former colonies during the Revolutionary War. The Revolution had been fought partly on the basis of “no taxation without representation.” The circumstances involved the foreclosure of family farms. Whiskey was the lifeblood of the backwoods economy and culture. Citizens had to pay an annual rate of 0.60 for each gallon of still capacity or nine cents per gallon produced. Whiskey was a way of life it lubricated every rite of frontier existence.

Following a Congressional act enforcing the excise tax, Pennsylvania farmers openly resisted federal marshals and revenue inspectors. Initial minor altercations turned violent and soon the region around Pittsburgh was filling with local militia men willing to forcibly resist any federal action and vowing not to compromise. Over 7,000 men stood ready to defend their right not to be taxed on whiskey.

Alexander Hamilton urged Washington to take action. On August 2, 1794 a letter to Washington, Hamilton referred to the actions in Pennsylvania as...