It's about that time again, the Whiskey Rebellion Festival will be here before you know it! On July 26-28 in several locations in Washington County, there is something for everyone to enjoy! Food, music, historical street and re-enactments, there is something different going on each day and you won't want to miss it!
Here's some history behind the Whiskey Rebellion, and why we celebrate this exciting time in Pennsylvania history. This information comes from the Whiskey Rebellion Festival website:
The Whiskey Rebellion was originally was a tax protest in the early years of the United States, starting in 1791. During George Washington's presidency, farmers who sold their grain in the form of whiskey were required to to pay a new tax, which they did not agree with. This was Alexander Hamilton's program of getting the country out of national debt.
This new tax was extremely unpopular in western states, including southwestern Pennsylvania. Protestors would often start riots and try to intimidate the tax collectors coming through. In one instance, an angry mob tarred and feathered a tax collector.
In response, President Washington called in a militia of 13,000 men in an attempt to stop the violence. However, by the time the the militia arrived, the rebels dispersed and there was no confrontation. The response showed that the government had the right to levy taxes and suppress voilent resistance to its laws.
For more information and the complete schedule of events, visit the Whiskey Rebellion Festival's website at http://www.whiskeyrebellionfestival.com/. There's something for each member of the family, so you won't want to miss out any of the days!
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