The Whiskey Rebellion and Shays Rebellion Define: The Whiskey Rebellion was an event when the newly formed central government imposed a tax on distilled alcohol, such as whiskey. The tax was unpopular and viewed as a burden to farmers, who refused to pay the tax. Hordes of rebels terrorized the courts, disrupting their function. Shay’s Rebellion was led by Daniel Shay, a Revolutionary War captain, and those who followed him rebelled against the Massachusetts government because they imposed heavy taxes to pay state debt. Discuss: The Whiskey Rebellion was a show of strength from the new central government. The government ignored the plight of Shay and co. to fund Hamilton’s economic plan, which was beyond the capabilities of Congress; it was Hamilton who encouraged Washington to send the militia to disband the rebels. Shay’s rebellion was a display of social revolution and forced Massachusetts to make adjustments with debt collectors. Relate: These rebellions were important to early American political thought because it emphasized the need for a powerful federal government to collect taxes. Shays' Rebellion showed the weaknesses and shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and which eventually contributed to the Constitution and granting the central government more power. The Whiskey Rebellion’s …show more content…
He argued that the government should not coerce people to practice a particular religion and not punish them for not conforming. Williams believed in the toleration of all religions, including those that were not accepted by the Puritan faith. He believed that all individuals should be allowed to pursue their own beliefs without being persecuted. Williams was also an advocate for Native Americans and believed they had a right to their lands, and that the government should not take their lands without the proper