Compare And Contrast Shays Rebellion And Whiskey Rebellion

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. The law had created a lot of controversy throughout the country because many farmers used their leftover wheat and corn to make it. In the 1790s whiskey

This is because Shays rebellion took place because the poor farmers were fighting against the outrageous taxes which were leaving them without land and in prison with no means of supplying food for their families. In many states at the time if someone didn't have land they weren't able to vote because in the governments eyes they had no power. These taxes were taking away the farmers land which then also took away their right to vote which left them powerless and made their options pointless. Poor farmers ended up in jail which left their families out on the streets begging for money and a means to survive. Just like the whiskey rebellion farmers were left without a way to supply for their family because the demand of whiskey was way down after the government increase the tax by 25%. Both these rebellions took place because the government was over taxing the poor people. The farmers had no other choice but to start a rebellion or end up in prison. Most of the farmers didn't just choose not to pay the taxes they couldn't afford to. They weren't trying to stick it to the government they didn't have a choice it was either fight or loose their family. In Shays rebellion the poor farmers charge the courthouse trying to take a stance against the high taxes. The court house locked the doors until the court was over so the farmers wouldn't have a say. This is very similar to the whiskey rebellion