Divisions

Question 1

Background to the whiskey insurrection

Answer 1

• due to hamiltons financial plan, the tax on liquor in 1791 meant that many frontiersmen struggled to pay their taxes
• this was because they had to distil their corn and rye into whiskey as it was too difficult to transport

Question 2

Describe the whiskey insurrection

Answer 2

• December 1794- armed resistance
• mobs terrorised federal agents and prevented courts from functioning
• August 1794- 6000 men gathered near Pittsburgh and set up mock guillotines to register their solidarity with revolutionary France
• Hamilton + Washington raised militia of 13000 and ham led the army to Pittsburgh in suppressing the “whiskey boys”

Question 3

What did this prove

Answer 3

• under the articles of confederation, the fed gov had been too weak to respond to uprisings- e.g. shays rebellion
• therefore, the successful response of the whiskey rebellion proved the new constitution was working to maintain law and order

Question 4

Describe shays rebellion

Answer 4

• farmers couldn’t pay tax due to there not being enough specie
• this led to farmers being imprisoned or losing land, which caused outrage
• farmers were increasingly desperate- sent riotous mobs from place to place and this prevented courts from hearing cases
• 1787- several hundred armed men marched towards the federal arsena, led by farmer Daniel shays
• widespread instability in the region
• was dispersed by 1000 militiamen
• the rebellion had a widespread impact as it exposed the inability of the federal government to maintain law and order
• thus exposing the weakness of the articles of confederation and gave impetus to the movement to strengthen the national government and to change economy