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Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

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.