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The conditions in southwestern Pennsylvania during the 1770's through the 1990's were simply as follows. The United States had just been born. Indian attacks such as the attack on Massy White and her children and the Russ massacre were common in western Pennsylvania. Local battles had been going on with the Indians with no support from the eastern peoples who also were busy with the British until the late 1770's and then had a government …

…problems the settlers were having with the government, gave the newly formed government a chance to flex its muscles and, in a sense, redefined the word treason to permit disagreement with the government without being considered treasonous. The so-called Whiskey Rebellion is important in U.S. history mainly because it provided the first real test of the federal government's prerogatives and law enforcement power, including the president's right to command the use of state militias.