10/26/16: The Whiskey Rebellion
Nearly twenty years after the revolutionary War began, the United States government faced a small-scale revolution by some of its own citizens. As in the previous war, taxes were a central issue.
Cause?
U.S in DEBT: In order to create a self-supporting and effective government, Treasury Secretary Hamilton knew he needed to find a steady source of revenue. He proposed an excise tax on whiskey produced in the United States, and Congress instituted the levy. In general, the citizens of that time felt negatively toward the idea of taxation. The farmers of western Pennsylvania, many of whom distilled whiskey and profited from its sale, proved outright hostile to the idea.
Who proposed the tax?
What were the feelings of the citizens?
A force of disaffected whiskey rebels attacked and destroyed the home of a tax inspector. The rebellion grew in numbers and threatened to spread to other states. Hamilton knew that hostile force in Pennsylvania could not be tolerated. If the government were to survive, it would have to show itself capable of keeping control.
Hamilton advocated the use of military force; President George Washington instead put state militias on the ready and sent in negotiators. When talks proved fruitless, Washington reluctantly agreed to Hamilton's use of military force. A force of 13,000 militia troops, led by Hamilton and Virginia governor Henry Lee, marched into western Pennsylvania.
Why was Hamilton so willing to use military force?
By the time the federal force arrived, the rebellion had collapsed and most of the rebels had fled. Two men were convicted of treason and later pardoned by Washington. Alexander Hamilton was elated. The fledgling federal government had proven it could keep order -- a necessity if the U.S. was to avoid instability. But many, in particular Thomas Jefferson, thought that this resort to military force was a dangerous mistake.
The Whiskey Rebellion changed the way the government handled protesters
- It set a president for the government o use force when necessary to maintain social order.
Whiskey Rebellion Reading and Questions
10/28/16: Washington's Farewell Address:
George Washington’s Farewell Address left guidelines that he hoped would empower the young nation to grow in strength and remain independent.
The students will work in groups to read a section of his address and summarize the main points he made. The class will discuss how his beliefs relate to the United States today.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Essential Question
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