Our nation has existed since 1776. Some wonder whether the income tax has been around for as long. As perhaps would be expected, taxes were not much a part of our nation’s early history. After all, the Boston Tea Party involved a protest over a tariff, the Tea Act of 1773, imposed by the English crown. In the period directly preceding the 19th century, the United States imposed internal taxes on distilled spirits, tobacco, refined sugar, slaves, carriages, corporate bonds, snuff, and property sold at auction.
The 19th Century