Available land in the east was diminishing and so in turn, the population begin moving westward. Also, after the Treaty of Paris in 1783 and consequently the end of the American Revolution, created many changes. Lack of authority and resources to affirm authority (Ex. no more mass British army to fight off Indians), had its consequences. Nearly 80 percent of the federal budget was spent battling and removing Indians from the lands along the Ohio River, the most recently settled land by Americans (p.146). In order to compensate for this, Congress passed the tax on whiskey stills which affected mainly poor white farmers. Therefore, westward expansion and the riddance of the Indians, brought forth the infamous Whiskey Rebellion. Henry Brackenridge was one of the leaders of the Whiskey Rebellion also revealed his perspective of the event. Brackenridge recorded the reaction of the government to the rebellion as “shocking”. As he stated, the military troops dragged farmers from their beds in the middle of the night and kept them in open pens for days, and only two ended up being convicted (p.149). This type of behavior from the military raised considerable interests about the power of government and the rights of citizens. They knew in fact the articles of confederation, at the time was a weak approach to centralized government, and questioned the right of the approach of the government in handling such issues, as stated by Brackenridge: “With few exceptions these arrests were made with total disregard of amnesty...contrary to the express command of Washington in the general orders signed by Hamilton...” (p. 151). ...
