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Compare and contrast Shays and Whiskey Rebellion

A) Shays Rebellion sought lower taxes, while Whiskey Rebellion aimed at increasing taxation.
B) Both Shays and Whiskey Rebellion were protests against the government's economic policies.
C) Shays Rebellion focused on civil rights, while Whiskey Rebellion targeted economic issues.
D) Shays Rebellion occurred in the 19th century, while Whiskey Rebellion took place in the 18th century.

User Chidimo
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Final answer:

Shays' Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion were both protests against governmental economic policies, with the former protesting various economic hardships including high taxes, and the latter being a reaction to an excise tax on whiskey. Both rebellions highlighted the resistance to perceived unfair taxation and the challenges of governance in the early United States. (Option B).

Step-by-step explanation:

When comparing and contrasting Shays' Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion, the correct answer is B) Both Shays and Whiskey Rebellion were protests against the government's economic policies.Shays' Rebellion, which took place in 1786-87, involved a group of farmers in Massachusetts who were protesting against high taxes, crushing debts, and the threat of losing their properties to foreclosures. They aimed to influence the legislature to pass laws more favorable to them.

On the other hand, the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 was a response to an excise tax on distilled spirits proposed by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to cover the costs of putting the nation on solid financial footing. Like Shays' Rebellion, the Whiskey Rebellion was driven by a perception that the tax system was unfair and excessively burdensome, particularly to farmers and rural citizens.

Both rebellions were quelled, but they had significant effects on the young nation's approach to internal dissent and governance. Shays' Rebellion was a factor leading to the Constitutional Convention, while the Whiskey Rebellion tested the federal government’s ability to enforce its laws, resulting in the use of a federal militia to suppress the uprising. (Option B).

User Felix Kling
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