TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog

Yes, tomorrow is that day again — Tax Day. You can blame it on Abe Lincoln.

Back in 1861 when the war began, President Abraham Lincoln could foresee problems in raising money to finance the war effort; at that time the only Federal income was through customs duties.  It was then that Congress got into the act by passing the Civil War Revenue Act of August 5, 1861, which became the nation’s first income tax.

And as we know it’s been downhill ever since. Enjoy!