Before the Income Tax

Thomas Jefferson's photo on the $2 bill, which once was in circulation in America up to the early 80's.

http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/history/item/14268-before-the-income-tax

Americans who were born in America from 1913 to present have always remembered the federal income tax.  Every year prior to April 15th Americans must file their federal taxes, which can be very mundane and cumbersome, depending upon your assets and what you own, for example.  However, from the years 1789-1913, the United States for the most part didn't have a national income tax, except in cases like the American Civil War, for example.  I have posted an article from New American which discusses how the federal government operated prior to the ratification of the income tax amendment in 1913.  To read the story, click on the above link from New American.