The Whiskey Rebellion (1794) 

Mutinous Moonshiners in Western Pennsylvania  

Review Launching the Ship of State

Context: Part of Hamilton’s financial plan was an excise tax on Whiskey [to pay for assumption] . Southwestern Pennsylvania backcountry folks hard hit by Hamilton's excise tax.  

Conflict:   “Whiskey Boys” posed a major challenge to the new national government –They torched buildings, tarred & feathered revenue officers, chased gov’t supporters from the region; some talked of secession from U.S. = Tax collections came to a halt.  Washington summoned the militia of several states resulting in 13,000-man army. Washington accompanied troops part of the way; Hamilton all the way. When the troops reached the hills of w. Penn., the Whiskey Boys dispersed. Washington later pardoned the two convicted participants to heal the rift.

Consequence: Federal government showed it could ensure domestic tranquility Proved that another Shays’-type rebellion could not succeed under the new Constitution.  Jeffersonians condemned the action as a brutal display of force and gained increasingly more support from ordinary farmers.

Shays Rebellion(1786)  v The Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Factions v Political Parties -

What is the difference?