The taxes we pay

The Taxes We Pay
In the United States, the history of taxes goes far back in time. During the Civil War, there was a tax on income for a short period of time. In the 1890’s, the tax was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. In 1913, the 16th Amendment was passed which gave the United States the power to tax personal income. Congress imposed taxes to help raise money to fight wars. Before, the government relied on excise taxes on liquor and tobacco for its revenue. These taxes benefited American manufacturers by keeping prices high for foreign-made goods. During the Great Depression in the 1930’s, the government also many income and social security programs. The federal income tax began as a tax on only the wealthy in the 1960’s. Later, this tax included a...