2. The Whiskey Tax and Early Resistance
In 1791, the federal government imposed the first Whiskey Tax, sparking outrage among small rural distillers. Many Appalachian farmers saw the tax as unfair, targeting their livelihoods and independence. This discontent erupted in the infamous Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, when armed citizens openly defied federal agents. The legacy of this resistance sewed the seeds for the South’s enduring bootlegging tradition, where making and moving illicit whiskey became a symbol of autonomy and protest.
