Securing the Northwest Territory Battle of Fallen Timbers The Whiskey Rebellion.

Securing the Northwest Territory

Battle of Fallen Timbers

The Whiskey Rebellion

Challenges to the New Government

Washington understood that America needed peace in order to prosper

However trouble brewed in the Trans-Appalachian West, over the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River

Spain, Britain, United States, and Native Americans all claimed land

Securing the Northwest Territory

Spanish TerritoryMuch of North America west of the MississippiFloridaPort of New Orleans at the Mouth of the

MississippiPort of New Orleans was critical for trade

Americans sent goods down the Mississippi to the Port

Spanish threats to close the Port were taken very seriously

Spanish caused trouble amongst white settlers and Native American groups

Securing the Northwest Territory

Strongest resistance to white settlement came from Native Americans in the Northwest TerritoryTerritory = border by the Ohio River to the

south and Canada to the NorthNative Americans hoped to join together to

form an independent Native American nationWas supported by the British

Eventually, Native Americans and white settlers clashed over the Territory

Securing the Northwest Territory

Washington sent troops to the Ohio Valley, believing that the Northwest Territory was critical to the security and growth of America

Federal army was defeated by Little Turtle in 1790

Washington sent troops westNative Americans were later defeated

at the Battle of Fallen Timbers Named Battle of Fallen Timbers

because trees had been blown over by a storm

Native Americans signed the Treaty of Greenville Agreed to cede, or surrender, much of

present-day Ohio and Indiana to the US

Battle of Fallen Timbers

Conflict arose over the government’s tax on whiskey, part of Hamilton’s financial plan

Outraged farmers from Pennsylvania to GeorgiaWhiskey and the grain it was made from, were

important productsGrains could be transported much easier in liquid

formHorses could carry 2 bushels of rye or two barrels of

rye whiskey (= to 24 bushels of rye)

The Whiskey RebellionWhiskey Rebellion Movie Trailer

Whiskey is more expensive than grain

Farmers usually traded whiskey for other goods, such as salt, and sugar

Whiskey = more $$$In 1794, group of farmers in

western Pennsylvania staged the Whiskey Rebellion against the taxTar and feathered a tax

collectorThreatened an armed attack

on Pittsburgh

The Whiskey Rebellion

Washington, urged on by Hamilton, had to crush the Whiskey RebellionNot doing so might undermine the new

government and weaken its authorityWashington sent 13,000 soldiers to dispel the

uprisingRebels fledWashington showed that the government had

the power and the will to enforce its laws

The Whiskey Rebellion

The Whiskey Rebellion was the first test of the federal government’s constitutional power to tax. Some criticized Washington for sending troops to face American citizens, but his actions enforced the federal government’s authority. Washington made the point that the Constitution is the law of the land and must be obeyed.

Impact…