Alcohol
Timeline
[ Back To Timeline ]
| 1791 |
| The Act of 1791 (popularly called the "Whiskey Tax") enacted a tax on both publicly and privately distilled whiskey. |
| In addition it created tax collectors who were given authority to intrude on private property and were paid a percentage of the take. The law also authorized rewards to informers who reported unregistered stills. This tradition of paid informers continued until 1916. As a result of this law, civil disobedience began around the issue of alcohol distillation with many distilleries going underground. |
| References Nelson D. Moonshiners, Bootleggers, & Rumrunners. Motorbooks, 1995. |
[ Back To Timeline ]