Chronology challenges an exclusive origin story. It does not demonstrate that no migration occurred or that taxation had no influence on individual decisions.
The passage challenges a popular causal story by testing its sequence and incentives rather than denying that some Pennsylvania distillers migrated.
Rothbaum argues that the Whiskey Rebellion cannot adequately explain bourbon’s Kentucky origin: Kentucky was already a state and already distilling before the 1794 climax, and migrants would have remained subject to the same federal tax.
Displayed p. 74–77 / complete PDF sheets 173–182
American Whiskey — Whiskey Rebellion
Whole-copy audit: complete 1,664-sheet PDF, sheets 173–182. Retained 498-sheet partial locator: 172–173. Verified denotes source fidelity, not independent factual confirmation. Chronology challenges an exclusive origin story. It does not demonstrate that no migration occurred or that taxation had no influence on individual decisions.
Evidence
Rothbaum argues that the Whiskey Rebellion cannot adequately explain bourbon’s Kentucky origin: Kentucky was already a state and already distilling before the 1794 climax, and migrants would have remained subject to the same federal tax.
Location and context
American Whiskey — Whiskey Rebellion. Displayed p. 74–77; complete supplied PDF sheets 173–182. Earlier partial-copy sheets 172–173 remain archival locators only.
Critical assessment
Chronology challenges an exclusive origin story. It does not demonstrate that no migration occurred or that taxation had no influence on individual decisions.
Verification boundary
The passage has been read in context during the complete supplied-copy review. Source fidelity is verified; factual corroboration and proposed Academy application remain distinct. Existing Source, Literature Note, citation and claim relations are preserved. No public course placement was changed.