Whiskey Rebellion Tax

About Whiskey Rebellion Tax

Alexander Hamiltons whiskey tax of 1791 was the first tax on a domestic product by the new US government. The tax devastated western farmers who distilled whiskey from surplus grain. Armed resistance in Pennsylvania in 1794 led President Washington to lead 13,000 militia to suppress the rebellion. The tax was repealed under Jefferson in 1802. The Whiskey Rebellion established that the federal government had the power to enforce its laws. The tax also demonstrated the political power of frontier regions. Whiskey became a currency substitute on the frontier, making the tax particularly burdensome for cash strapped farmers.