ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY
August 1, 1794
The Whiskey Rebellion March on Pittsburgh Begins
On this day in 1794, 7,000 people gathered at Braddock's field in Pennsylvania to protest a tax on whiskey and
other policies being enacted by the government. The whiskey tax was unpopular particularly among smaller farmers
who felt it was structured to favour the large distilleries.
At the protest there was talk of declaring independence from the United States. President Washington responded by
sending commissioners to meet with the "rebels" while also raising a militia to suppress the violence.
|