AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: The Whiskey Rebellion (Day 69/309)

Welcome to today’s explanation of the Whiskey Rebellion in my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

U.S. 10 Dollar Bill, Wikimedia Commons

As part of Hamilton’s Financial Plan to resolve the financial crisis facing the nation, a tax on whiskey was enacted in 1791. The tax was intended to raise revenue to pay off national debt.

A receipt for the whiskey tax, 1798, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

The whiskey tax was strongly opposed by western farmers as they relied heavily on the production of whiskey. After the tax was passed, several protests and acts of violence against tax collectors occurred.

Famous Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsylvania, Wikimedia Commons

In 1794, an organized rebellion emerged in western Pennsylvania. Several thousand armed rebels openly defied federal authority, violence ensued, and increased conflict seemed imminent.

George Washington and Troops at the Whiskey Rebellion, Wikimedia Commons

Washington federalized around 15,000 state militiamen. The swift and overwhelming response caused the rebellion to collapse. It demonstrated the strength of the new federal government, especially when compared to Shays’ Rebellion.

The Whiskey Rebellion exposed tensions between federal authority and individual rights. It also demonstrated the strength of the federal government in the face of domestic unrest.

Join me tomorrow as I explain the First Political Parties- Federalists in our next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!