“Taxes come in all shapes and forms. From federal to state, sales to excise- almost every purchase or monetary movement has some form of taxation assessed to it. This taxation hasn’t always been so. In the beginning mankind wasn’t taxed- we went about our business and everyone left us alone. However, with the advent of government and then the struggle for power resulting in war, taxes became a prevalent means of raising the funding that the government required to pursue war. Taxes were first introduced in the form of “low tariffs and customs duties on a wide range of goods that produced revenue easily” (PBS par 9). This did not fair well with the lower part of the income earning population “as the “have nots” – or ordinary citizens – realized that these tariffs – that is, taxes on imported goods – were forcing them to pay higher prices, and they pushed for a tax on the wealthy” (PBS par 10). And poof- their wish was granted and income taxes were instituted.”