History of the Western Insurrection in Western Pennsylvania commonly called the Whiskey Insurrection

The Whiskey Rebellion took place in western Pennsylvania between July and November of 1794 when the fledgling Federal government set a new excise tax on whiskey to which the local farmers took strong exception by numerous acts of violence A Pittsburg attorney and friend of Madison, Hugh Henry Brackenridge, attempted to mediate the dispute but failed, and president Washington had to send in Federal troops to suppress the rebellion Of several rebels who were tried for treason, only two were convicted and they were subsequently pardoned by Washington However, this remarkable event is of interest because it was a very popular uprising, and the most serios challenge the new Federal government had faced up until that time Because his mediation efforts failed H H Brackenridge was subjected to vitriolic attacks from both sides In 1795 he published “Incidents of Insurrection of the Western Part of Pennsylvania” which, in conjunction with a similiar work, “History of the Western Insurrection” by William Findley (1796) form the basis of this present work The author of the present work was the son of H H Brackenridge, and was himself a prominent Pittsburg attorney and writer Since the present work provides a very detailed history of the rebellion and includes many affidavits from local residents, a new every-name index has been added to this reprint

H M Brackenridge 

(1859), 2008, 5½x8½, paper, index, 356 pp

ISBN: 9781556131394

101-B0139