What We’re Reading

The Whiskey rebellion | William Hogeland

The subtitle of this book is George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and the frontier rebels who challenged America’s newfound sovereignty. It is, I am told, the definitive work on this episode of early American history which nearly lead to civil war. Alexander Hamilton is the villain of the piece; Washington the ailing, aging leader and the only sitting president to lead troops into combat.

To pay off Revolutionary War debt and achieve Hamilton’s financial goals, an excise tax on whiskey was approved by Congress. It seemed expressly designed to drive small distillers out of business and force them into the factories of large distillers - class warfare at its worst - the drama played out in western Pennsylvania in the late 1790’s. Whiskey was used in lieu of currency by small landowners who distilled their grain into whiskey to transport it ove the mountains to the east coast. The reaction of the locals to the actions of the government in Philadelphia; the machinations of the wealthy to keep the upper hand, the intimidation of moderate thinkers by the radicals on both sides all have a compelling immediacy. Although there are an abundance of lessons, we don’t seem to learn much from history.

This was a Trantor audio book, well narrated. Guaranteed to make time a long drive pass quickly.