Challenges to the New
Government
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Whiskey Rebellion
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To help pay off the war debt, Washington
started to tax whiskey
Whiskey is an alcoholic beverage
The farmers who grew the grain to make
the whiskey were angry.
Why whiskey?
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Farmers had a hard time getting their grain to
market, so they turned their grain into whiskey,
which was easier to transport.
They got more money for the whiskey anyway.
Farmers traded the whiskey for salt, sugar, and
other goods.
Farmers used whiskey as money to get
whatever supplies they needed.
Farmers did not have the money to pay for the
tax.
The Rebellion
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In the summer of 1794, a group of farmers
in Western Pennsylvania rebelled against
the whiskey tax and staged the Whiskey
Rebellion.
One group beat up a tax collector and
coated him with tar and feathers.
Why do you think tax collectors were tarred and
feathered?
The Government Responds
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Alexander Hamilton wanted the
government to look strong. He
encouraged President Washington to
stop the revolt.
Federal troops marched to Western
Pennsylvania and put down the revolt.
Washington had proved that the
government would deal with people not
obeying the law.
Why do you think Washington chose to lead the troops
himself?
Washington’s Farewell Address
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Before he retired, Washington gave a farewell
address (speech). In it he
Warned against political parties - he thought they
caused arguments
Urged the nation to remain neutral and not
become involved in foreign alliances.
Warned against a powerful military.
Urged Americans to maintain and value a sense
of national unity.
Political Parties
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Despite Washington’s warnings, political
parties developed.
The first two political parties were the
Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.
The Federalists wanted a strong national
government. The Democratic-Republicans
thought a strong national government
would lead to tyranny.
Hamilton versus Jefferson
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Alexander Hamilton led the Federalists.
Thomas Jefferson led the DemocraticRepublicans.
Northern merchants and manufacturers
became Federalists.
Southern farmers and workers became
Democratic-Republicans
John Adams Becomes 2nd
President
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After Washington
retired, his VicePresident, John Adams
became the second
president.
Thomas Jefferson came
in second. He became
Vice-President.
XYZ Affair
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The U.S. was having problems with France. They
were seizing American ships so they couldn’t trade
with England.
Adams sent men to France to work out the
problems.
However, the talks would occur only if the
Americans agreed to loan France $10 million and
to pay the minister a bribe of $250,000. The
Americans refused. The incident became known
as the XYZ Affair.
Alien and Sedition Acts
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President Adams was criticized for the XYZ affair
by Democratic-Republican newspapers.
He blamed the papers and new immigrants for
his problems.
To silence his critics, the Alien and Sedition Acts
were passed.
These acts targeted aliens —immigrants who
were not yet citizens.
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One act increased the waiting period for
becoming a U.S. citizen from 5 to 14 years.
Other acts gave the president the power to
arrest disloyal aliens or order them out of the
country during wartime.
A fourth act outlawed sedition. Saying or
writing anything false or harmful about the
government became illegal. Newspaper
editors were arrested.
Many people thought the Alien and Sedition
Acts violated the First Amendment.