Describe arguments around Hamilton’s tax plan and the causes and effects of the Whiskey Rebellion

Question

Analyze Washington’s major foreign policy decisions

Answer 1

Arguments around Hamilton's tax plan:

- Supporters of Hamilton's tax plan argued that the federal government needed to raise revenue in order to repay the Revolutionary War debts and establish the creditworthiness of the new nation. They believed that the federal government should have the power to levy taxes in order to fund its operations and maintain economic stability.
- Opponents of the tax plan, such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, argued that the proposed tax measures, such as the excise tax on whiskey, unfairly burdened small farmers and distillers. They saw it as an infringement on individual liberty and believed that the federal government should not have such broad taxing powers. They argued that the tax plan favored urban, commercial interests over rural agricultural communities.

Causes and effects of the Whiskey Rebellion:

- The main cause of the Whiskey Rebellion was the imposition of the excise tax on whiskey by Alexander Hamilton as part of his broader tax plan. This tax was deeply resented by many small farmers and distillers, especially in western Pennsylvania, where whiskey production was a significant part of the local economy.
- The Whiskey Rebellion began in 1791 and escalated in 1794 when local militias, comprised mostly of these disgruntled farmers, started to violently resist the tax collectors. They tarred and feathered tax collectors and even attacked federal officers. The rebellion reached its peak when a group of rebels attacked the home of a tax inspector, leading President George Washington to mobilize a militia of nearly 13,000 soldiers to suppress the rebellion.
- The ultimate effect of the Whiskey Rebellion was a demonstration of the federal government's ability to enforce its laws. The rebellion was swiftly and decisively put down by Washington's troops, sending a strong message that the government was willing to use force to maintain law and order. The rebellion also highlighted the tensions between rural, agrarian interests and urban, commercial interests in the early years of the United States.

Analyzing Washington's major foreign policy decisions:

- One of Washington's major foreign policy decisions was to declare neutrality in the war between Britain and France, known as the French Revolutionary Wars. This decision was based on the belief that the young United States should avoid getting entangled in European conflicts. It allowed the nation to focus on domestic issues and avoid potential hostilities with either Britain or France.
- Another significant decision was Washington's signing of the Jay Treaty with Britain in 1795. This treaty resolved several issues between the two nations, including the British occupation of forts in the Northwest Territory and disputes over trade. Critics of the treaty, primarily supporters of France, believed that it favored British interests over American ones and failed to address British impressment of American sailors.
- Washington's decision to send John Jay to negotiate the treaty was a key move in establishing the executive branch's authority to conduct foreign policy independently. This decision helped establish the precedent that the president has the power to negotiate treaties without requiring congressional approval, as long as the treaty falls within the executive's constitutional powers. Overall, Washington's foreign policy decisions aimed to protect American interests, maintain neutrality, and establish the nation's credibility as a sovereign state.