The first meeting of farmers at Redstone Fort in July 1791 marked the beginning of an organized resistance. The farmers didn’t only refuse to pay the taxes they started to humiliate the collectors. And they went even further: They ambushed and mistreated them; tarring and feathering was a popular method. Resistance and riot lasted over the next years and all proclamations and other attempts of Washington and his government didn’t calm matters. In July 1794 open violence broke out when about 400 rebels gathered together near Pittsburgh and set the house of the regional tax collection supervisor on fire. The answer of George Washington was to call of militia of Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia. 13.000 men under the command of General Lee, Governor of Virginia, joined by Hamilton and Washington himself, went westwards. 

When the militia reached Pittsburgh in November 1794 everything was over: the rebels had dispersed. About 150 men were arrested and interrogations started, but just 2 men were found guilty for treason. Even they were pardoned by Washington later on. 

The consequent and powerful demonstration of federal strength by sending out militia, nearly numerous as the army had been in the War of Independence, had taken effect. Nipped in the bud – the Whiskey Rebellion was over.

By the way: The Whiskey tax was repealed in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson