Whiskey Rebellion

Whiskey Rebellion (1794), uprising of mainly Scotch-Irish farmers of western Pennsylvania against the federal excise tax imposed on whiskey by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1791. Federal officers were attacked, some were tarred and feathered, and one had his house burned down. Resistance increased when official measures were taken to obtain the tax. At Hamilton's insistence, President George Washington sent in 13,000 militia to suppress the insurgents. They met no resistance, and Washington pardoned 2 ringleaders convicted of treason. Although Federalists claimed a victory—the federal government had demonstrated the power to enforce its law—the party suffered politically.