Whiskey Rebellion 1794

Cause The U.S. had a 25 million dollar debt from borrowing money. In 1789, Alexander Hamilton passed a on tax whiskey. It taxed farmers who wanted to make whiskey with their grain. Also known as the Whiskey Act, came into law in 1791.

Effect Most 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.

Meetings The 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.

Resistance In 1791, some rebel farmers decided they were done with the tax. On September 11 th 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 Hill On July 16 th, 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 Hill The 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 Hill Both 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 Pittsburgh On August 1 st, a gathering of 7,000 rebels met at Braddock’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 Actions The 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 7 th, George Washington announced that the rebellion was going to be stopped by the militia.

Government’s Actions Washington’s militia consisted of 12,950 men The 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.

Legacy When 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.

QUIZ TIME! Q. Who passed the tax to help pay off the U.S.’s 25 million dollar debt? A.Thomas Jefferson B. Alexander Hamiliton C.Benjamin Franklin D.Zawad

QUIZ TIME! Q. Who passed the tax to help pay off the U.S.’s 25 million dollar debt? B. Alexander Hamiliton

QUIZ TIME! Q. Which two types of farmers didn’t like the tax? A.Western and Small farmers B.Southern and Large farmers C.Eastern and Middle sized farmers D.Zawad

QUIZ TIME! Q. Which two types of farmers didn’t like the tax? A.Western and Small farmers

QUIZ TIME! Q. Who led the militia that stopped the rebellion? A.Thomas Jefferson B.James McFarlane C.George Washington D.Zawad

QUIZ TIME! Q. Who led the militia that stopped the rebellion? C. George Washington

THE END