The Whiskey Rebellion

In the Whiskey Rebellion, farmers protested a tax the federal government placed on the sale of whiskey. The farmers physically attacked the taxmen as they tried to make collections. Washington personally inspected the 15,000 militia sent to put down the revolt. The revolt faded away.

The Excise Tax of 1791 incited many western settlers. The distillation of whiskey was a good way to transfer excess corn. Whiskey was easier to transport than corn, and served as an alternate currency.

Mass meetings were held in western Pennsylvania, in which farmers entered into covenants agreeing not to pay the taxes. They created local militias to protect their liberty not to pay these taxes. When the Governor of Pennsylvania failed to act, Hamilton convinced Washington to take strong action.

Washington personally led an army of 13,000 into western Pennsylvania. The rebellion waned. This ended the only armed rebellion until the Civil War.
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