How did the Federal Govt generate revenues before the Income Tax?

[WhosNext]

How did the Federal Govt generate renues before the income tax amendment was passed?

[hedda_foil]

1. Tariffs on imported goods.

[Bombtrack]

2. I believe it's part of the bill of rights

I should be sure about this but that's what I beleive.

[WhosNext]

5. I always thought it was a more recent thing.

[camero]

6. In the Constitution

It gave Congress the power to levy tariffs. Not the president though.
Another area where Bush is usurping the constitution.

[Padraig18]

3. Import and excise duties, etc.

Taxes on alcohol, rubber, imported goods and the like.

[hatrack]

4. Customs & import duties, for the most part

Of course, this was back 200 years ago, when the United States Army was about 10,000-strong.

[southpaw72]

7. check out this link

From infoplease:

The nation had few taxes in its early history. From 1791 to 1802, the United States government was supported by internal taxes on distilled spirits, carriages, refined sugar, tobacco and snuff, property sold at auction, corporate bonds, and slaves. The high cost of the War of 1812 brought about the nation's first sales taxes on gold, silverware, jewelry, and watches. In 1817, however, Congress did away with all internal taxes, relying on tariffs on imported goods to provide sufficient funds for running the government.

In 1862, in order to support the Civil War effort, Congress enacted the nation's first income tax law. It was a forerunner of our modern income tax in that it was based on the principles of graduated, or progressive, taxation and of withholding income at the source. During the Civil War, a person earning from $600 to $10,000 per year paid tax at the rate of 3%. Those with incomes of more than $10,000 paid taxes at a higher rate. Additional sales and excise taxes were added, and an “inheritance” tax also made its debut. In 1866, internal revenue collections reached their highest point in the nation's 90-year history—more than $310 million, an amount not reached again until 1911.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005921.html

[WhosNext]

8. Interesting. Thanks.

[Yupster]

9. I would add

land sales as a major source of income, though it was oftrn more to the states than to the federal government.

Of course since the federal government did so little back then there just wasn't the need for that much money to run it.