WHISKEY REBELLION
1794
 

The Whiskey Rebellion was one of the first big internal uprisings in the history of the freshly founded United States.

Problem was the liquor tax, which only makes sense. The man behind this tax was secretary of the treasury Alexander Hamilton. He thought the tax would help getting rid of national debt. Congress gave the green light for the tax in 1791.

Little did the government put itself into the shoes of the average farmer, who distilled and consumed as good average farmers should distill and consume. Hotspot became western Pennsylvania where federal tax collectors were attacked. In July of 1794, 500 friends of liquor paid the regional tax inspector a visit and rocked his house down.

President George Washington tried to get help from neighboring militias but they couldn't hear so well on that ear at the time. Finally, George sent in 13,000 troops to make a point. This was a lot of cannon and did the trick. It convinced everybody that the liquor tax was an OK thing to pay.

HOW MANY VICTIMS DID THE WHISKEY REBELLION CLAIM?
None. Only two people got convicted of treason but they were later pardoned.

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