The Whiskey Rebellion: Effects On History The Whiskey Rebellion was one of the first accomplishment over a period of time taken to get the United States out of debt after the Revolution. (Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. History) states that “Life on the western frontier was very difficult during this period; much of the area was simultaneously claimed by both Great Britain and Spain, and settlers were also threatened by Indian wars”. The Whiskey Rebellion was caused by Alexander Hamilton who convinced congress to pass a tax on the farmers main crop Whiskey! Hamilton’s intention was to help compile the power of the new government along with bringing down the national dept. The Whiskey Rebellion has showed how the new constitution could be strong.
This sentiment is universally shared amongst those who participated in this "Whiskey Rebellion". The "General" or President Washington instituted the whisky tax 3 years ago to remitt some of debt incurred during the war. These farmers resisted the tax because most of these frontiersmen do not use currency but rather use their fermented produce made into whiskey as their medium of exchange. They felt this tax directly infringed on the principles they fought for in the war. Washington and his new government maintained these taxes were legal and necessary for the health of the new nation.
They all had an immense amount of debt due to the government not paying the veterans, and the taxes being increased for farming. This led to Daniel Shays becoming one of the numerous leaders of the rebellions. At first they tried to change the laws peacefully by having a petition for them stating that the veterans and farmers were being treated unfairly because these new laws, guidelines, and new legislature rules (legislature was controlled by merchant interest). Therefore since the legislature was controlled by eastern merchant interest the petitions were declined which caused even more issues for the veterans and farmers. Protests began to increase tremendously, in August 1786 the legislature was going to have a court meeting considering the many petitions against the rebellions, but Shays had formed a protest that marched to the courthouse and prevented them from having the court sitting.
The settlers were shocked at how the government was handling this situation, and decided to take that matter into their own hands. Shays’ Rebellion was the first armed rebellion in the post-Revolutionary United States, where settlers called for special meetings where they agreed on coordinated protests.
It was important for George Washington to put down the Whiskey Rebellion and enforce tax on whiskey because the rebellion was a threat to the new republic. After Washington put down the rebellion, the new government established their position and power, hopefully discouraging future law breaking of this kind. While the US was formed on rebelling against laws that were deemed unjust, the country would not have survived if citizens felt free to rebel or break every law they did not like. Further, the whiskey tax was a way for the US to gain money to help pay debts from the Revolution, which were important to repay in order to secure the country’s economic survival long term. The greatest factor that convinced colonists to pay their taxes was
This event was a test to show if the new country could take the violence current countries had to take. Shays Rebellion showed the American government was weak and needed a change soon. This event was so tragic that this led to the destruction of The Articles of Confederation. In current day America we are now governed by a stronger government under The Constitution that is why the event is so important in American history and that is why I chose this event.
Attempt to start an armed slave revolt and destroy the institution of slavery Inflamed sectional tensions and raised the stakes for the 1860 presidential
America had just won the revolutionary war and became a free nation. Their constitution, the Articles of Confederation had many problems. Many farmer colonists felt like America was just another form of England with high taxes and unfair laws. Eventually, the depression was so bad the colonist got fed up and started to devise a plan. Daniel Shays was the leader of planning the rebellion.
The Whiskey Rebellion and the American Revolution were pivotal events in American history, both characterized by acts of resistance against perceived injustices. Even though they share certain major similarities in terms of participant grievances and resistance against governmental authority, a closer analysis reveals notable differences in their underlying motivations, goals, and the nature of their resistance. This essay aims to analyze Chapters 3 and 4 of "A Well Regulated Militia" in order to compare the stance of the Whiskey Rebellion participants with that of the American colonists during the Revolution. Both the participants of the Whiskey Rebellion and the American colonists during the Revolution harbored grievances against the government. The Whiskey Rebellion, as described in Chapter 3,
Settlers could then move west. Washington made the decision that was the best for the country and its national growth. Dealing with financial debt was a dubious task for Washington due to the mixed opinions. Furthermore, shortly after the Northwest territory was won, the Whiskey Rebellion took place. Hamilton’s financial plan raised taxes to help eliminate war debt.
Shays Rebellion Shays’ Rebellion was the final nail in the coffin for the Articles of Confederation. It managed to serve as the catalyst for the Founding Fathers to recognize the necessity for change to a stronger and more centralized government. The rebellion highlighted several of the documents’ failings that ultimately were due to the weak and decentralized government that the Articles of Confederation established. Although the Articles of Confederation was America’s first federal constitution, its weak federal government did not work out well for the United States.
Shay’s Rebellions follow the Revolutionary war and how the US fell into a economic crisis, There were a lot of tension due to farmers losing their property to to debt collectors. In January 1787, him and his force were sent to a federal armory at Springfield but it failed due the artillery fire and how it lead to 4 people being killed and 20 people being wounded. Rebellion doesn’t always end up peaceful and it can also show no improvement at.
The whiskey rebellion was a protest by many Americans who were against the new law that taxed whiskey. This law was put into place in 1791. The United States government was in debt from the war and they decided that taxing whiskey would slowly start eating away at Americas debt. George Washington was in his second year of presidency during 1791 although he wasn't the mastermind behind the whisky tax. Alexander Hamilton was the man behind this idea because he realized that Americans needed to do something to get out of their nearly eighty million dollars in debt they had accumulated from the war.
Shay's Rebellion resulted in a wake up call to people that their "government" framework at the time had more weaknesses than pros and that it desperately needed to be revised.
Ironically, western Virginians experienced a period of significant prosperity and growth in the years following the Whiskey Rebellion. Numerous anti-excise leaders in the western counties were able to return to their state and local government positions, some even using the insurrection to advance their political influence. Economically, in the aftermath of the insurrection, the lasting military presence in western Virginia boosted the local economy, bringing in more much-needed banknotes. Barksdale notes, “The soldiers’ demand for supplies and propensity to consume large quantities of Virginia whiskey assumed that money flowed into the burgeoning regional economy.” It was ironic that the soldiers sent to enforce the loathsome whiskey tax stimulated
Around the time of these protests Americans were beginning to realize their rights as citizens and what their ideal government looked like. Settlers of the backcountry were rebelling against the federalists, attempting to acquire more representation in the government. The people of the backcountry were becoming more oppressed as Alexander Hamilton began to attempt to improve America’s economy with manufacturing and revenue taxes. The backcountry settlers organized violent protests, three of these rebellions being Shays’ Rebellion, Whiskey Rebellion, and March of the Paxton Boys.