ExclusiveHow income taxes replaced tariffs as the primary way of funding the government

The word tariff has been heard a lot lately in the news, in political commentary, on social media, and even on retail websites. Regardless of political leaning, all Americans have become increasingly conscious of the concept of tariffs because of President Donald Trump’s promised plans to levy them against foreign countries. Some people think this sounds like a great idea, while others insist that it spells financial disaster. The president has mentioned his intention of using tariffs to replace the income tax. While this might seem like a radical notion, an examination of American political history reveals that the battle over income tax versus tariffs is an old one.
Although the federal income tax as we know it was not implemented until 1913, the idea of a graduated income tax on American citizens dates back to the War of 1812. Although that tax never came to pass, the first income tax would be temporarily imposed on wealthier citizens during and directly after the Civil War to fund that costly military conflict. After it expired, many people argued that a graduated income tax would shift the burden of funding the government from poor laborers, through tariffs, to rich business owners. However, could tariffs support the huge US government of the 21st century?