Well, it seems like government regulation is timeless.  “The Whiskey Wars That Left Brooklyn in Ruins” was a great example of government intervention into the private sector.

The article highlights the arbitrary taxation enforced by the government.  The November 2, 1870 event shows the carelessness of the commanders in charge of their battalions.  This is evident by the carless dumping/wasting of product belonging to American citizens.  This is wrong regardless of their tax status.

The Smithsonian article balances text and pictures well.  The political cartoon and newspaper illustration helped me understand the era better.