When Western Pennsylvania Defied Washington: The Whiskey Rebellion and Federal Power

In 1794, resistance to a federal whiskey tax in western Pennsylvania became one of the first major tests of the new federal government's authority. The Whiskey Rebellion forced President George Washington and his administration to confront a basic constitutional question: what happens when citizens openly resist federal law? In this live edition of America@250: Due Diligence, hosts Steve Herman and Bill Bernardoni will be joined by Pittsburgh attorney and historian Ron Schuler and Duquesne University law professor Ann Marie L. Schiavone to explore the Whiskey Rebellion, the early federal government's exercise of authority, and the continuing constitutional questions surrounding federal power and law enforcement. This event is free, but registration is requested.