The
Whiskey Rebellion by William Hodgeland, 2006, Excerpts
The Massachusetts
assembly had taken an aggressive approach to consolidating and paying its war
debts, benefiting the few who held interest-bearing state notes. Further taxes
were levied on the people. Though some were payable in various kind of paper,
they were simply not payable at all by many; mass foreclosures ensued. Protest
took the form of petitions and meeting, demanding a revaluation of the debt
along realistic lines. In 1786 the debtors staged a classic court riot in
Northampton. In January of 1787 they tried to seize the federal arsenal in
Springfield, where they were put down by the state militia and ringleaders were
arrested.
After suppressing the
Shays’ Rebellion, the Massachusetts legislature repealed the crushing tax laws.
To nationalists like Hamilton, it was the old story; legislatures reacted to
the people’s violence by passing laws that robbed investors.
No comments:
Post a Comment