National Challenges that Washington Faced

Whiskey Rebellion

• Who? Farmers in Western PA and the Federal Government

• What? – Tax on Whiskey made farmers angry because it was easier to

transport whiskey than grain to market across the Appalachian Mountains.

– Farmers lashed out against the government by taking control of court houses so farmers would not lose their farms

• When? Tax imposed in 1791 Full Rebellion occurred by 1794

• Where? Western Pennsylvania• Why?

– Farmers were unable to send their crops down river to the port at New Orleans

– They made their wheat into whiskey and could ship their entire crop easily across the mountains into the eastern ports

– Could not make a profit with the tax on whiskey• How?

– Farmers surrounded the court house to prevent trials from occurring to evict people from their land for not paying taxes

– Farmers threatened the federal governments authority so President Washington personally led in troops to put down the rebellion• The rebellion dissipated before Washington and the troops arrived

Northwest Territory

• Who? Native Americans, British, and Americans• What Happened? – Native American tribes in the area joined together

under the command of Little Turtle– Battle of Fallen Timbers was a loss for the Native

Americans and the use of total war (total destruction) by the Americans under Wayne

• When? 1792 Anthony Wayne sent to Territory– Treaty of Greenville signed 1796 officially ended the

conflict

• Where? Northwest Territory• Why? Americans had settled in the Northwest

Territory against the wishes of the Native Americans so they declared war

• How was it solved? – Treaty of Greenville gave the U.S. claim to the

Northwest Territory and allowed the Native Americans to remain on some of their lands without disruption form settlers.

– This would not last long