- After the Revolutionary War, the new federal government faced a number of challenges, including the need to raise revenue to pay off the debts incurred during the war.
- In 1791, Congress passed an excise tax on distilled spirits, including whiskey, which was a popular drink in the western parts of the country.
- The tax was unpopular in the western states, where many people made their own whiskey and resented the federal government's attempt to tax them.
The Whiskey Rebellion:
- In 1794, a group of farmers in western Pennsylvania rebelled against the excise tax. They attacked tax collectors and burned down a federal tax office.
- In response, President George Washington ordered the federal government to put down the rebellion.
- An army of 13,000 men marched into western Pennsylvania and quickly crushed the rebellion.
The Whiskey Rebellion was important for several reasons:
1) It showed that the federal government was willing to use force to enforce its laws.
2) It helped to establish the principle of federal supremacy, meaning that the federal government's laws take precedence over state laws.
3) It also helped to strengthen the federal government's authority and its ability to raise revenue.
4) The Whiskey Rebellion showed the new government was strong and capable of enforcing its laws.
5) It also helped to unify the country and to reduce tensions between the federal government and the states.