“Wait, wait, wait… Hold up!”

What does all this mean?

The Break Down Son’s of Liberty Shay’s Rebellion Whiskey’s Rebellion

• Group of shopkeepers rebelling against the Stamp Act in 1765

• Violent demonstration against tax distributors

• Shopkeeper were upset that they were being taxed by British parliament with no representation

• A major pressure contributing to the need of the colonies to serparate from Britain (F&I war)

• Confederation is drawn up as a security device

• Led by farmer and revolutionary vet Shay Daniel in 1786

• Farmers rebelled against taxes imposed by legislatures under the confederation

• Protesters brought up arms, shut down buildings, and stirred things up

• One of the major pressures to invest in a centralized government (doing away with the confederation) and to draw up the constitution in 1787

• Farmer led rebellion 1791-94• Occurred during the presidency of

George Washington• Farmers who sold their corn in the

form of whiskey were forced to pay a taxes as part of Alexander Hamilton’s (treasury of state) plan to gain revenue to pain off the national debt

• Farmer felt singled out although in this situation, under the constitution, they had representation.

• Buildings were burned and tax distributers were intimidated

• George’s army was summoned to keep the peace

Common Trends

Common TrendsIn many situations, such as the ones cited on the previous slide, farmers and business owners were exploited by the government who had intentions repay national debts.

Taxation without representation posed a major issues within the colonies and the independent states. i.e. The Sons of Liberty were shopkeepers rebelling against taxation by British Parliament. In Shay’s rebellion, taxation under the confederation was deemed constituted as well.

However…The Whiskey Rebellion presented itself as the most complex. While heavy taxes were levied against farmers, the taxation was indeed constitutional, as each state had two representatives who voted on the cause. So, as the representational aspect of the famers’ unrest was taken care of, their displeasure with the concentrated aims of legislatures to single the working class out bubbled to the surface.

Why Should I Care?

Well, the trend of American rebel groups standing up against decisions employed by the government, whether they are constitutional or not, have served to create disunity within the nation. It appeared to be an effective method that started early on while America was still viewed as the colonies. Seeing as Britain often times responded in favor of the unrested rebels , it became the way in which they sought to have their voices heard. It got the a revolution, did it not? Nevertheless, it has been proved to be a founding principle by which many radical groups still abide by. As well, the common culture of the government to solely implement taxes on the working class served to drive a stake through the heart of the country, separating and cultivating resentment amongst the working class.

Oh wait… that just sounded like a major influence on the big picture question!

To Wrap This Up…

• Farmers and working class who voted for the Constitution believed that it would protect them from taxes

• The Constitution was not a cure-all for US government• Post constitution rebellions were very similar to the rebellions

before independence• Rebellions created huge divides within the country• Rebellions so far, up until Whiskey’s Rebellion, marked drastic

political changes

Works CitedThe Whiskey Rebellion." PBS. 2000. 19 Oct. 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/duel/peopleevents/pande22.html>.

Ushistory.org. “The Sons of Liberty.” The Declaration of Independence. 4 July. 1995. Web. 23 September. 2011. < http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/sons.htm

"The Whiskey Rebellion." PBS. 2000. 19 Oct. 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/duel/peopleevents/pande22.html>. SUS Department of Education. "Bottling Up The Whiskey Rebellion." Cartoon. Cartoon_4_Whiskey_Rebellion. 2009: <http://www.google.com/imgres?q=george+washington+whiskey+rebellion&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=564&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=8qsnBve5W-V48M:&imgrefurl=http://www.dlt.ncssm.edu/presidents/washington_lp.htm&docid=0l3fvLxKy6V7DM&imgurl=http://www.dlt.ncssm.edu/presidents/Lesson_Plans/Washington_Lesson_Plans/Political_Cartoon_LP/Cartoon_4_Whiskey_Rebellion.JPG&w=3072&h=2304&ei=5NioTsPbDIPiiAKI2Z2WBg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=263&sig=118398892114068648958&page=1&tbnh=163&tbnw=217&start=0&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&tx=144&ty=22>. Aster Chin, Bob Henry, and Jim Gaul. Touchstone Companion to US History. 1. Seattle: Lakeside High School, 2011. 29-30. Print.

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