Whiskey Rebellion
E65632
The Whiskey Rebellion was a 1790s uprising of frontier farmers in western Pennsylvania protesting a federal excise tax on distilled spirits, which tested and ultimately affirmed the authority of the new U.S. government under President George Washington.
Statements (53)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
armed uprising
→
historical event → tax revolt → |
| commanderOpposingForce |
George Washington
→
Henry Lee III → |
| country |
United States of America
→
|
| endTime |
1794
→
|
| followedBy |
Fries's Rebellion
→
|
| governmentResponse |
mobilization of about 13,000 militiamen
→
presidential proclamation ordering insurgents to disperse → use of federalized state militias → |
| hasCause |
economic hardship of frontier farmers
→
federal excise tax on distilled spirits → perceived unfairness toward small whiskey producers → |
| hasEffect |
affirmation of federal authority under the U.S. Constitution
→
demonstration of power of the new national government → political backlash aiding Democratic-Republicans → precedent for federal use of militia to enforce law → strengthening of federal tax enforcement → |
| headOfGovernmentDuringEvent |
George Washington
→
|
| headOfStateDuringEvent |
George Washington
→
|
| leader |
David Bradford
→
James McFarlane → |
| legalBasis |
Militia Act of 1792
→
|
| location |
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
→
Fayette County, Pennsylvania NERFINISHED → Washington County, Pennsylvania NERFINISHED → Western Pennsylvania → Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania NERFINISHED → |
| mainSubject |
whiskey excise tax
→
|
| opposedBy |
frontier farmers
→
small-scale distillers → |
| pardonGrantedBy |
George Washington
→
|
| participant |
Alexander Hamilton
→
George Washington → Henry Lee III → Pennsylvania militia → frontier farmers in western Pennsylvania → |
| partOf |
early history of the United States under the Constitution
→
presidency of George Washington → |
| result |
few leaders prosecuted and later pardoned
→
rebellion collapsed without major battle → |
| significance |
early challenge to federal taxation policy
→
first major test of federal authority under the U.S. Constitution → |
| significantEvent |
attack on the home of tax inspector John Neville
→
burning of Bower Hill → federal militia march into western Pennsylvania → gathering at Braddock's Field → |
| startTime |
1791
→
|
| supportedBy |
federal government of the United States
→
|
| taxOn |
distilled spirits
→
whiskey → |
| taxType |
excise tax
→
|
Referenced by (5)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Washington administration
→
|
faced |
|
Early Republic of the United States
→
|
hasPart |
|
Meriwether Lewis
→
|
participantIn |
|
First Party System
→
|
relatedEvent |
|
Washington administration
→
|
suppressed |