Fries's Rebellion

Quick Facts: Who was Fries's Rebellion?

Subject:

Fries's Rebellion

Known for:

A major tax revolt by Pennsylvania Dutch farmers against federal taxation in 1799-1800.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Fries's Rebellion (), also called House Tax Rebellion, the Home Tax Rebellion and, in Pennsylvania German, the Heesses-Wasser Uffschtand, was a tax revolt among Pennsylvania Dutch farmers between 1799 and 1800. It was the third of three tax-related rebellions in the 18th century United States, the earlier two being Shays's Rebellion (central and western Massachusetts, 1786–87) and the Whiskey Rebellion (western Pennsylvania, 1794). It was commemorated in 2003 with a Pennsylvania historical marker erected in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, where it first erupted. When the Quasi-War with France threatened to escalate in 1798, Congress raised a large army and enlarged the navy. To pay for it, Congress in July 1798 imposed $2 million in new taxes on real estate and slaves, apportioned among the states according to the requirements of the Constitution.

Career & Major Achievements

It was the first (and only) such federal tax. Congress had also recently passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, criminalizing dissent and increasing the power of the executive branch under John Adams. In July 1798, during the troubles between the United States and France now known as the Quasi-War, the US Congress levied a direct tax (on dwelling-houses, lands and slaves; sometimes called the Direct House Tax of 1798) of $2 million, of which Pennsylvania's share would have been $237,000. There were very few slaves in Pennsylvania, and the tax was accordingly assessed upon dwelling-houses and land, the value of the houses being determined by the number and size of the windows. For many residents of the area, this came to be known as The Window Tax.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The inquisitorial nature of the proceedings, with assessors riding around and counting windows, aroused strong opposition, and many refused to pay, making the constitutional argument that this tax was not being levied in proportion to population. Pennsylvania German farmers were also upset at the fact that the tax assessors were largely Quakers and Moravians, neither of which fought in the American Revolution, while the majority of farmers did. Pennsylvania auctioneer John Fries organized meetings, starting in February 1799, to discuss a collective response to the tax. As an itinerant auctioneer, Fries was well acquainted with the German-Americans' issues in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania. This was important because the three counties in which the opposition was centered (Bucks, Northampton, and Montgomery) were heavily populated by German immigrants.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1786: 1786 Milestone — It was the third of three tax-related rebellions in the 18th century United States, the earlier two being Shays's Rebellion (central and western Massachusetts, 1786–87) and the Whiskey Rebellion (western Pennsylvania, 1794).
2. 1798: 1798 Milestone — When the Quasi-War with France threatened to escalate in 1798, Congress raised a large army and enlarged the navy.
3. 1799: 1799 Milestone — Fries's Rebellion (), also called House Tax Rebellion, the Home Tax Rebellion and, in Pennsylvania German, the Heesses-Wasser Uffschtand, was a tax revolt among Pennsylvania Dutch farmers between 1799 and 1800.
4. 2003: 2003 Milestone — It was commemorated in 2003 with a Pennsylvania historical marker erected in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, where it first erupted.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Fries's Rebellion

True or False: “The primary catalyst for the Fries's Rebellion was the imposition of a federal tax on dwelling houses and lands in 1798.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): Congress levied a direct tax of $2 million in July 1798 to fund military expansion during the Quasi-War with France.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexander Pushkin — Historical peer (Born in 1799) (1799): Founder of modern Russian literature and a towering figure of the Romantic era.
• Amos Bronson Alcott — Historical peer (Born in 1799) (1799): Pioneering American educator, philosopher, and advocate for human spiritual perfection.
• Alexander Suvorov — Historical peer (Died in 1800) (1800): Brilliant Russian general whose victories defined military prowess in the late 18th century.
• Dutty Boukman — Historical peer (Born in 1800) (1800): Key leader in the Haitian Revolution, formerly enslaved from Senegambia.
• Bernardo de Gálvez — Historical peer (Died in 1786) (1786): Spanish military leader and colonial governor instrumental in securing Spanish territories.
• Carl Maria von Weber — Historical peer (Born in 1786) (1786): Pioneering German composer, central to the development of German Romantic opera.
• Anacharsis Cloots — Historical peer (Died in 1794) (1794): Prussian nobleman and internationalist anarchist, pivotal figure in the French Revolution.
• André Chénier — Historical peer (Died in 1794) (1794): Emotive French poet, precursor to Romanticism, tragically linked to the French Revolution.
• Alberto Sordi — Historical peer (Died in 2003) (2003): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• Alija Izetbegović — Historical peer (Died in 2003) (2003): Bosnian politician, Islamic philosopher, and author who led Bosnia through its tumultuous independence.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fries's Rebellion