The 1789 Whiskey Tax That Sparked an American Rebellion

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 1791-1794 Whiskey Rebellion, the first major test of federal tax authority under the U.S. Constitution. They trace how Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton's excise tax on distilled spirits—designed to fund revolutionary war debt and assert federal power—triggered a violent uprising in western Pennsylvania. The hosts unpack the economics of the tax: why whiskey was currency on the frontier, how the tax burden fell disproportionately on small farmers versus large distillers, and how President Washington's 13,000-man militia response set a precedent for federal enforcement. They also draw a line to modern debates about tax design, regional inequality, and state capacity. Key figures include Hamilton, Washington, and tax rebel leaders like William Findley. No prior episode has covered this early American fiscal crisis. #EconomicHistory #WhiskeyRebellion #AlexanderHamilton #GeorgeWashington #ExciseTax #AmericanHistory #TaxPolicy #FederalPower #1790s #Pennsylvania #FiscalHistory #Insurrection #EarlyRepublic #HistoryOfTaxation #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #USHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo