UNIT 5 LAB A Brief History of Income Taxes Before there was a federal income tax, what taxes did Americans have to pay? Explain why tariffs are considered regressive taxes. Describe the first institution of the income tax in the United States, the reason behind it, and what happened to it. Even though the amendment that allowed income tax was passed again in 1913, what events led to its being enforced among all Americans? How did the government try to influence citizen’s views of paying income tax? Would this have worked for you? How can the government drive their policies using income tax?