Whiskey Rebellion
A Show of The Government's Power, and Its Will To Use It
In the rural areas of America, whiskey was a major part of the economy. So when George Washington and his treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton implemented a tax on whiskey to pay of America's debt from the revolution, citizens of these rural areas weren't pleased. The farmers that this was taxation without representation, and protested. They used violence to prevent tax collectors from collecting tax. The government got involved after 500 armed men attacked the home of a tax inspector. Washington sent both peace commissioners and a militia force. The rebels had disbanded by the time the militia force arrived. This was a show of the Executive Branch's power, and how government is willing to use this power.