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Whiskey Rebellion and George Washington's Impact
IN THE SUMMER OF 1794, GEORGE WASHINGTON, NOW PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE
NEWLY FORMED UNITED STATES, ONCE AGAIN TOOK THE REINS OF A 12,000-MAN ARMY, THE ENEMY: A
GROUP OF FARMERS NEAR PITTSBURGH WHO TURNED SURPLUS GRAIN INTO WHISKEY.
ACCOMPANYING WASHINGTON ON THE MARCH INTO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA WAS HIS SECRETARY
OF THE TREASURY, ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
THE REASON FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF FORCE WASN'T A MORAL
OBJECTION TO ALCOHOL BUT THE FACT THAT THE FARMERS REFUSED TO PAY A STEEP FEDERAL
LIQUOR TAX INITIATED BY HAMILTON.
IN 1791, ALEXANDER HAMILTON HAD PUSHED THROUGH CONGRESS A 25% EXCISE TAX ON WHISKEY
TO BE COLLECTED AT THE SOURCE.
FEDERAL TAX COLLECTORS HAD TO FACE THESE FRONTIER FARMERS, KNOWN AS THE "WHISKEY
BOYS," ON THEIR OWN LANDS.
OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN THE FARMERS AND THE TAX
COLLECTORS GREW MORE AND MORE VIOLENT UNTIL A LARGE PORTION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
WAS IN REVOLT AGAINST THE TAX.
WHEN WASHINGTON AND HIS TROOPS ARRIVED, THE TROUBLEMAKERS DISPERSED, AND THE
REBELLION DISINTEGRATED.
ACCOMMODATIONS WERE MADE WITH THE RINGLEADERS.
BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WHISKEY REBELLION AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S
INTERVENTION WAS THAT A PRECEDENT WAS SET.
BY BEING LENIENT WITH THE WHISKEY BOYS, THE NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOWED ITS
CAPACITY TO RULE RESOLUTELY BUT WITH MERCY.
OVER THE NEXT 200 YEARS, THE SEEMINGLY LIMITLESS FREEDOM OF AMERICAN SOCIETY
WOULD, FROM TIME TO TIME, LEAD TO VIOLENT PROTESTS AND REBELLIONS.
IN 1863, IRISH IMMIGRANTS AND U.S. CITIZENS RIOTED AGAINST THE NEW DRAFT INITIATED BY
LINCOLN.
A STRIKE AT PITTSBURGH HOMESTEAD STEEL MILL IN 1892 LED TO BLOODSHED AND WAS FINALLY PUT
DOWN BY THE PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA.
IN 1932, AT THE HEIGHT OF THE DEPRESSION, VETERANS MARCHED ON WASHINGTON, D.C. GENERAL
DOUGLAS MACARTHUR, ON ORDERS FROM PRESIDENT HOOVER, CRUSHED THE PROTEST.
THE INFAMOUS SUMMER OF 1965 SAW AMERICA'S INNER CITIES TORN APART WITH RIOTS FROM LOS
ANGELES TO DETROIT TO MIAMI.
AND BY THE END OF THE DECADE, NATIONWIDE PROTESTS AGAINST THE VIETNAM WAR, OFTEN PUT
DOWN BRUTALLY BY POLICE AND SOLDIERS, WOULD END AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN THE
CONFLICT.
BUT THESE PROTESTS AND REBELLIONS DID NOT TEAR THE COUNTRY APART.
IN FACT, OFTEN THEY MADE THE COUNTRY STRONGER, SHOWING THE TRUE VALUE OF FREEDOM.
What does the Whiskey Rebellion compare to? (After the United States won its independence from Great Britain.)
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What were the taxes from the alcohol being used for?
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How does protest and rebellions make the United States stronger and show true Freedom?
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