Barksdale, kevin t lee, henry the virginia magazine of history and biography, vol. July 17, 1794 five hundred militiamen march on nevilles house and burn it to the ground. Soon after the first battle of the whiskey rebellion on july 16, 1794, some 7,000 western pennsylvanians rose up in revolt. Whiskey rebellion, 1794, uprising in the pennsylvania counties w of the. The whiskey rebellion of 1794 by wythe holt james florys. Holt is or was a university professor from alabama. Whiskey rebellion, 1794, in american history, uprising that afforded the new u. Choose from 217 different sets of whiskey rebellion 1794 flashcards on quizlet. Brief guide to resources about the whiskey rebellion of 1794, especially as it affected businesses, inc. Whiskey mania in southwest pennsylvania histbuffer.
That same year, huckel traveled with gurney to western pennsylvania as part of the expedition to quell the whiskey rebellion. The whiskey rebellion 1794 originated in a dispute over the role of taxation in the united states. Our food is simple and honest, created from ingredients sourced locally when possible from sustainable american farmers. Arguing that this was the case in pennsylvania, president george washington called out the militia to put down the whiskey rebellion in 1794. The whiskey rebellion marked the first largescale resistance to a law of the u. During the confrontation, defenders of the house kill james mcfarland, the leader of the militia. Join the rebellion and experience life on the pennsylvania frontier during the time of the whiskey rebellion 1791 1794.
The history of early americas most famous popular uprising looks at the origins behind one of the most famous insurrections in american history. The whiskey rebellion prologue the president, the west, and the rebellion president washington was traveling home to virginia in june of 1794 when he got hurt. Preceded by shayss rebellion in 1786, and followed by friess rebellion in 1799, the whiskey rebellion is distinguished by its size. What came to be known as the whiskey rebellion of 1794, or the western insurrection, took place over a period of time beginning in 1791 by most accounts. Problem was the liquor tax, which only makes sense. Jun 03, 2012 in 1794 thousands of farmers in western pennsylvania took up arms in opposition to the enforcement of a federal law calling for the imposition of an excise tax on distilled spirits.
George washington, alexander hamilton, and the frontier rebels who challenged americas newfound sovereignty new york. Contrarian account of a contrarian struggle, in some senses americas first civil war. This page from the bedford county, pennsylvania visitors bureau provides a brief history and the text of president washingtons address to general henry lee, the commander and chief of the militia army. Whiskey rebellion 1794 world history for the relaxed. Our menus contain food and drinks rich in american tradition. The whiskey rebellion also known as the whiskey insurrection was a tax protest in the united states beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of george washington, ultimately under the command of american revolutionary war veteran major james mcfarlane. Too often, when the whiskey rebellion is even mention in history books, it is relegated to nothing more than a bunch of backcountry moonshiners taking potshots at the revenuers sent by alexander hamilton to enforce the excise tax on distilled spirits. These activities are vividly portrayed throughout the festival grounds at.
Welcome to this gumberg library research guide on the whiskey rebellion, a tax protest that occurred throughout western pennsylvania in 17911794 after the american revolution, the newly formed national government intended to generate revenue and reduce national debt by imposing an excise tax on distilled spirits, angering western frontier farmers who were accustomed to distilling. Though the various events associated with this protest took place over a period of four years between 1790 and 1794, it reached its climax in 1794, and thus, is also referred to as the whiskey rebellion of 1794. At that time this was the largest single concentration of american armed forces. Despite the title, the novels action does not include the whiskey rebellion of 1794. Devens 1882 what started as a tax in 1791 led to the western insurrection, or better known as the whiskey rebellion of 1794, when protesters used violence and intimidation to prevent federal officials from collecting. In 1794, farmers in pennsylvania rebelled against hamiltons excise tax on whiskey, and several federal officers were killed in the riots caused by their attempts to serve arrest warrants on the offenders. Nov 27, 2016 the whiskey rebellion, as it is known to history, was the third in a line of major frontier settler rebellions. While all three rebellions were motivated by their opposition to burdensome taxes, neither daniel shays nor john fries ever gathered more than a few hundred supporters at any one time. Mar 24, 2020 welcome to this gumberg library research guide on the whiskey rebellion, a tax protest that occurred throughout western pennsylvania in 1791 1794 after the american revolution, the newly formed national government intended to generate revenue and reduce national debt by imposing an excise tax on distilled spirits, angering western frontier farmers who were accustomed to distilling surplus. Journal of an expedition made in the autumn of 1794, with a detachment of new jersey troops into western pennsylvania to aid in suppressing the whiskey rebellion by david ford. In the summer of 1794, a us marshall was sent from philadelphia to both enforce the tax and calm the rebellion. The socalled whiskey tax was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government. The whiskey rebellion the first test of the new federal governments power.
Whiskey rebellion, set aflame the appalachian region until, in 1794. The author desires to express his appreciation of the aid given by the staff members of a number of depositories, particularly the historical society of western pennsylvania, the darlington library of the university of pittsburgh, the carnegie library of pittsburgh, the library of congress, and the connecticut historical society. Slaughter restores the whiskey rebellion 1794 to its rightful place as a major event in our national history. Frontier epilogue to the american revolution new york. They were mad about this because usually there to make grain into whiskey. The whiskey rebellion illustration of the whiskey rebellion from our first century, by r. While some would say the roots go back much further, it was not until march 3, 1791 that congress instituted an excise tax on distilled liquors that set the rebellion of 1794 in motion. The whiskey rebellion, 1794 revolt in western pennsylvania threatens american unity, a focus book knight, david c on. Join the rebellion and experience life on the pennsylvania frontier during the time of the whiskey rebellion 17911794. Tea is inextricably linked with the american fight for independence, but whiskey was the first touchstone for the strength of the new federal authority. See more ideas about whiskey, jefferson quotes and thomas jefferson quotes.
Jun 25, 2011 the whiskey rebellion of 1794 is regarded as one of the first tests of federal authority in united states history and of the young nations commitment to the constitutional rule of law. Now from wikipedia it sounds like some people protested a tax. If its mentioned at all in survey texts, the whiskey rebellion is usually seen as an effort on the part of simpleminded frontiersmen to keep washington revenuers from taxing their corn mash, a sort of postcolonial snuffy smith. The whiskey rebellion of 1794 by wythe holt james flory. You might be under the assumption that my life went to the dogs when my fiance left me at the. The whiskey rebellion was a 1794 uprising of farmers and distillers in western pennsylvania in protest of a whiskey tax enacted by the federal government. Mar 26, 2020 1794 the whiskey rebellion is a sustainable local downtown carlisle restaurant which prides itself in sourcing the most ecofriendly products from an array of local farmers and distillers. In 1794 he earned the rank of captain, serving as a paymaster in the 1st regiment of the philadelphia brigade under col.
Whisky rebellion was in 1794 when farmers of western pennsylvania protested against the whiskey tax. In response, president washington nationalized 12,950 militiamen from new jersey, pennsylvania, maryland and virginiaan army approximating in size the continental force that followed him during the revolutionand. The whiskey rebellion occurred 20 years after the war of independence and the new government was faced with quelling a revolution by its own citizens caused by taxes. This is a wellwritten and timely history of the whiskey rebellion of 1794. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the whiskey rebellion like never before, in. The man behind this tax was secretary of the treasury alexander hamilton who figured the tax would help getting rid of national debt. Whiskey rebellion 1794 legal definition of whiskey.
Huckel lived in philadelphia for the remainder of his life. Historic activities whiskey rebellion festival washington. The whiskey rebellion, 1794 revolt in western pennsylvania threatens american unity, a focus book. Centered in southwestern pennsylvania in the early 1790s, specifically 1794 and also with effects reverberating in other states of the new union. Many citizens of the new republic assumed that the revolutionary war meant they would never be made to pay direct taxes to support a distant governm source for information on the whiskey rebellion. The espy house served as president washingtons headquarters during the whiskey rebellion in 1794. Known as the whiskey rebellion, this insurrection represented the largest organized resistance against federal authority between the american revolution and. The settlers, mainly scotchirish, for whom whiskey was an important economic commodity, resented the tax as discriminatory and detrimental to. President washington led an army of over,000 men to suppress the revolt. An interesting time in our regional history that almost became a real powder keg.
What is known as the whiskey rebellion of 1794 started with some farmers refusal to pay taxes and ended up in the march of. The whiskey rebellion, 1794 revolt in western pennsylvania. The socalled whiskey tax was the first tax imposed on a domestic. Collectively and despite the rebels being technically defeated, these revolts resulted. While all three rebellions were motivated by their opposition to burdensome taxes, neither daniel shays nor john fries ever gathered. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the whiskey rebellion like never before, in no time at all.
The whiskey rebellion was a tax protest launched by farmers of the western frontier in a bid to oppose the new excise tax on whiskey. Bacons rebellion in colonial virginia and shays rebellion in massachusetts during the confederation period followed similar patterns of armed uprising by frontier farmers against eastern elites. It was written about seven or eight years ago and mr. The restaurant features over 50 american and international whiskeys and an extensive craft drink list using no artificial sweeteners or mixes. The farmers in western pennsylvania made whiskey, using a large portion of their grain crops. The oxford companion to american military history dictionary. This was an excessive tax an internal taxpassed a few years before to raise additional funds for the national government. Alexander hamilton, secretary of the treasury, had proposed the excise enacted by congress. In 1794 thousands of farmers in western pennsylvania took up arms in opposition to the enforcement of a federal law calling for the imposition of an excise tax on distilled spirits. A federal officer was killed and an army of some 5,000 rebels prepared to march on 18 leland d. I thought id share a then and now on a topic and see if you guys like it. History of the insurrection in the four western counties of pennsylvania in the year. In david lisss historical thriller, frontiersmen try to save the nation from. The restaurant features over 50 american and international whiskey s and an extensive craft drink list using no artificial sweeteners or mixes.
Several disturbances occurred in other states with the unsuccessful whiskey rebellion of 17911794, primarily in western pennsylvania, being the most famous. The book not only offers the broadest and most comprehensive account of the whiskey rebellion ever written, but also challenges conventional understandings of the revolutionary era. Shays rebellion was not the only rebellion of its kind to take place in the newly independent u. It is a work of social, political, and intellectual history that makes a significant contribution to the the new narrative history. Whiskey rebellion, 1794, uprising in the pennsylvania counties w of the alleghenies, caused by alexander hamiltons excise tax of 1791. Hogeland that ive read this year, and i really enjoyed. Jul 26, 2014 holt poignantly reminds us how it is the american elite class who write the history books, and it is the american poor and working class who do not and are made historically invisible, though they were the ones who did nearly all of the actual living, fighting, dying, birthing, working, and experiencing of the country and the culture. The whiskey rebels is an historical novel by american writer david liss, inspired by events in. In 1794, one of the most important events in the young nations history took place, although it is largely forgotten today.
Aug 31, 2016 on the whiskey rebellion, see thomas p. List of books and articles about whiskey rebellion online. The whiskey rebellion of 1794 is regarded as one of the first tests of federal authority in united states history and of the young nations commitment to the constitutional rule of law. He contends that it parallels the conflicts over taxation and representation of the. In october, 1794, the army, led by washington, put down the rebellion. The story of a frontier uprising, university of pittsburgh press. What was the whiskey rebellion and what did it signify.
History comes alive through reenactments, demonstrations, exhibits, historic house tours and lively street theater throughout the day on saturday. A gripping and provocative tale of violence, alcohol, and taxes, the whiskey rebellion pits president george washington and secretary of the treasury alexander hamilton against angry, armed settlers across the appalachians. Whiskey rebellion for kids george washington was the 1st american president who served in office from april 30, 1789 to march 4, 1797. The whiskey rebellion of 1794 is regarded as one of the first tests of federal authority in united states history and of the young nations commitment to the constitutional rule. The whiskey rebellion, also known as the whiskey insurrection, was a tax protest in the united states beginning in 1791, during the presidency of george washington. The rebellion was more complicated, as freelance journalist hogeland shows. The whiskey rebellion of 1794 represented a serious threat to the authority of the newly formed government and the administration of george washington. It began in western pennsylvania and spread to neighboring states before subsiding in autumn. A democratic workingclass insurrection there is a nearmisdemeanor concerning this manuscript in that it is only 83 pages.
The whiskey rebellion was one of the first big internal uprisings in the history of the freshly founded united states. Like shays rebellion of 1786, the whiskey rebellion involved farmers reacting to the perceived indifference of a government many miles from their fields. Learn whiskey rebellion 1794 with free interactive flashcards. The story of a frontier uprising, 1939 pittsb, questia. The settlers, mainly scotchirish, for whom whiskey was an important economic commodity, resented the tax as discriminatory and detrimental to their liberty and economic welfare. List of books and articles about whiskey rebellion. In 1790, the new national government of the united states was attempting to establish itself. When president george washington ordered an army of,000 men to march west in 1794 to crush a tax rebellion among frontier farmers, he established a range of precedents that continues to define federal authority over localities today. You might be under the assumption that my life went to the dogs when my fiance left me at the altar for the home economics teacher, or when i got. Unearthing a pungent segment of early american history long ignored by historians, william hogeland brings to startling life the rebellion that. The whiskey rebellion of 1794 the whiskey rebellion represented the first serious challenge to the authority of the newly formed central government and thus demanded a decisive response.