How Did Farmers Respond To Hamilton’s Whiskey Tax?

The Whiskey tax was imposed by Alexander Hamilton who was the United States Secretary for the Treasury in 1791. It was an excise tax collected on distilled drinks and liquor. The tax was considered discriminatory by the farmers because the farmers made their liquor from excess grain. The tensions increased and took the form of full-fledged revolution against the unfair federal taxation measures. The farmers resorted to arms.

The first shots were heard at the South Park Township (then Oliver Miller Homestead). The attacks were disorganized as many groups of farmers entered the rebellion from different parts of Pennsylvania. The farmers robbed mails and stopped court proceedings. Pittsburgh was threatened of assault. One of the groups assaulted a tax collector by disguising as women. They cropped his hair, dunked him tar and feathers and also stole his horse.

Add Comment

Report