The Whiskey Rebellion

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The Whiskey Rebellion

Towards the end of the 16th century, the United States government experienced continuous changes in laws(taxes) and several problems(battling and removal of Indians) associated with westward expansion. Conflict was created in response to the rising taxes issued by the government on goods such as whiskey. Most affected by the heavy taxation were the creators and distributors of whiskey - the average poor white farmer. An incident that occurred in 1794 involving enraged farmers in western Pennsylvania, threatened the tax collectors lives as well as the authority of the government. This incident came to be known as the Whiskey Rebellion.

In chapter 7 in Deverell and Hyde, historical accounts illustrated by Alexander Hamilton's orders to Governor Lee of Pennsylvania, and Henry Brackenridge's "Dreadful Night" show different perspectives of the outbreak of the Whiskey Rebellion. Hamilton's orders to Governor Lee involved the suppression of opposition to the laws and causing the laws to be executed through military force or/and by judiciary (p.146...

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